Security Operatives Nab Influencers Over Defamatory Campaign Against Senator Shehu Buba
Security agencies have arrested some social media influencers allegedly behind a coordinated smear campaign targeting political office holders, including Senator Shehu Buba Umar. The arrests followed an intensive investigation involving the monitoring of social media posts and accounts linked to the spread of manipulated content and hate speech.
The campaign, which falsely associated Senator Buba with banditry, gained traction across various platforms before authorities intervened. Sources within the security services confirmed that the perpetrators used doctored video clips to disseminate fake news aimed at damaging the senator’s reputation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Following their arrest in mostly northern states, some of the influencers admitted to being misled by individuals they had trusted. Some of those granted bail have since issued public apologies through videos and written statements on their social media pages.
One of the influencers, Nasiru Ontop, released a video acknowledging their error:
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“We made a grave mistake by trusting Kibanna, someone we barely knew. His documents were fake. It wasn’t until our arrest that we began to question his authenticity. His TikTok account has now been deleted. We acted on misinformation and forged documents, and for that, we apologise to Senator Shehu Umar Buba and everyone affected.”
Ontop emphasized the importance of verifying information before sharing it and expressed deep regret for the harm caused.
Another influencer, Abdulrashid Abdullahi Kano, who operated under the Facebook page “Vanguard Hausa,” also issued a statement:
“We have confirmed that the video accusing Senator Shehu Buba Umar is false and malicious. It was fabricated by enemies of peace to tarnish his image. Senator Buba has consistently promoted peace and reconciliation, working with clerics and community leaders to resolve conflicts in Bauchi South.”
Kano urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, calling on media outlets and platforms to remove unethical content and uphold journalistic standards.
In response to the allegations, Senator Shehu Buba Umar reaffirmed his commitment to peace and development:
“I have always stood for peace and the welfare of our people. I deny these baseless allegations and will continue to work in favour of Bauchi South. I urge everyone to verify information before sharing and focus on issues that matter to our society.”
The incident has sparked renewed calls for responsible social media use and the need for stricter enforcement against misinformation campaigns targeting public figures.
