Shehu Buba Submits Himself To DSS Over Banditry Allegations

Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has submitted himself to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force and the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) for investigation following allegations linking him to banditry, kidnapping and terrorism financing.

Buba, who is the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) governorship candidate in Bauchi State for the 2027 election, said he took the step to allow competent security agencies to investigate the allegations and establish the facts.

The senator made the disclosure in Bauchi on Monday, September 14, 2026, while addressing journalists on the allegations that have recently resurfaced on social media and other public platforms.

Buba strongly denied sponsoring, financing, arming, facilitating or supporting bandits, terrorists, kidnappers or any other criminal organisation.

He said his legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Nigerian Bar Association President Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, had formally written to the DSS, DIA and Police to make him available for questioning and investigation.

The senator also challenged anyone who claims to possess evidence linking him to criminal activities to submit such evidence to the appropriate security agencies instead of circulating allegations on social media.

He said he was ready to cooperate fully with investigators and would face prosecution if a competent investigation established a prima facie case against him.

The allegations against Buba resurfaced following claims made online by a man identified as Hassan Husseini, who alleged that the senator maintained relationships with suspected bandits and had hosted criminal elements at his residence.

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Husseini further alleged that individuals linked to notorious bandit leader Dogo Gide were brought to Abuja for specialised training allegedly facilitated by one of Buba’s aides.

The claims have not been established as facts by any security agency or court, and Buba has rejected them as defamatory and politically motivated.

The senator also alleged that some of the photographs, videos and other materials being circulated against him had been manipulated or taken out of context.

Buba said the controversy was not entirely new, maintaining that similar allegations had surfaced as far back as 2024.

He recalled an earlier controversy involving people he sponsored for a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, saying the beneficiaries had been recommended by traditional rulers in his constituency.

According to Buba, some of those sponsored for the pilgrimage were later arrested after returning to Nigeria, leading to questions about their identities and alleged connections to criminal activities.

The senator said he had no knowledge of any criminal links involving the individuals when he approved the sponsorship.

He also disclosed that he petitioned the Nigeria Police Force in September 2025 over allegations and materials he said were being circulated to damage his reputation.

Buba said five suspects were subsequently arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on allegations including criminal conspiracy, cyberstalking, criminal defamation, advance-fee fraud and extortion.

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He said the case remains before the court and that he would refrain from making comments that could interfere with the judicial process.

Buba also referred to a September 7, 2026 petition seeking Interpol intervention over one of the individuals his legal team believes is connected with the allegations.

He said copies of relevant submissions had been forwarded to the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Intelligence, Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of Defence.

The senator argued that his former role as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence naturally brought him into regular contact with military, intelligence and other security officials.

He suggested that some of those legitimate interactions, particularly discussions concerning banditry, terrorism, kidnapping and other security threats, could have been misrepresented as evidence of relationships with criminal groups.

Buba was removed as chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence in November 2025 and subsequently became chairman of the Senate Committee on Livestock and Animal Husbandry.

The allegations have also taken on a political dimension because Buba is preparing to contest the 2027 Bauchi governorship election.

The senator was previously a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but left the party after withdrawing from its governorship primary process. He subsequently joined the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate in May 2026.

The PRP has defended Buba and rejected the allegations linking its candidate to banditry and kidnapping.

The party described the claims as an attempt to damage Buba’s reputation and undermine his political campaign ahead of the 2027 election.

It challenged anyone with credible evidence against the senator to submit it to law enforcement agencies for investigation and prosecution rather than rely on unverified allegations.

Buba has also appealed to his supporters to remain calm and avoid threats, insults or attacks against those making the allegations.

He said his decision to submit himself for investigation was not an attempt to secure preferential treatment but a demonstration of his willingness to allow the appropriate institutions to establish the truth.

For now, the allegations against Buba remain unproven. There has been no reported finding by the DSS, Police or DIA establishing that the senator sponsored or financed banditry, terrorism or kidnapping.

His decision to make himself available for investigation gives the security agencies an opportunity to independently examine the allegations, assess the authenticity and context of the materials being circulated and determine whether there is evidence of criminal conduct.

The outcome could have significant political implications as the 2027 Bauchi governorship election draws closer, particularly because Buba is seeking to lead the state on the PRP platform.

Shehu Buba Submits Himself To DSS Over Banditry Allegations

No Lives Lost as Responders Contain Dual Fire Outbreaks Across Lagos

Firefighters control blazes in Ikorodu and Surulere while clearing major highway obstructions over a busy emergency weekend.

Two separate fires destroyed several shops in Ikorodu and Surulere on Monday, causing significant property loss for local traders. Official reports confirm that while merchandise and equipment worth millions of naira were lost, no one was injured or killed in either incident.

The first incident occurred early Monday morning at Adamo Bus Stop in Ikorodu. Investigators found that faulty electrical wiring sparked on the roof of a salon, allowing flames to spread to two nearby stores.

Emergency teams arrived promptly to extinguish the fire and cool the surrounding structures so the flames would not return. Later that morning, another fire broke out on Olatunde Onimole Street in Surulere, destroying two retail spaces that housed a furniture business and a grocery store.

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Emergency teams also assisted drivers dealing with transit disruptions across the city, including towing disabled trucks off busy roads and aiding passengers after a commercial bus overturned on the Third Mainland Bridge.

LASEMA leadership praised the teamwork of police officers, paramedics, and traffic managers who kept the public safe. State authorities continue to remind shop owners and residents to inspect their electrical systems regularly and keep equipment properly maintained to protect their workplaces.

No Lives Lost as Responders Contain Dual Fire Outbreaks Across Lagos

Plateau Attacks: Gunmen Kill Passengers, 13 Dead Across Three LGAs

At least 13 people have been killed in a fresh wave of violence across Plateau State, with gunmen attacking a commercial bus in Jos South Local Government Area and separate communities in Mangu and Riyom LGAs.

The attacks, which occurred between Saturday and Monday, September 12 and 14, 2026, have heightened fears of renewed reprisal violence in communities already affected by prolonged tensions and recurring clashes.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred at Dungus Kuru T-junction, near Science School in Jos South, where gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus travelling from the Farin Lamba axis towards Jos.

The attack reportedly occurred at about 8:30pm on Sunday as the vehicle was moving through the area. The assailants opened fire on the bus before fleeing, leaving several passengers dead and others injured.

An initial military account put the death toll at six passengers, comprising five males and one female, while two others sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospital.

Troops responding to a distress call subsequently moved into the area and began operations to track down the attackers.

However, subsequent accounts from community sources placed the number of people killed in the bus attack at nine, saying some passengers who initially survived the shooting later died from their injuries.

The Berom Youth Moulders, through its spokesman, Rwang Tengwong, reportedly said one of the victims was a member of Operation Rainbow, a local security initiative operating in Plateau State.

The differing casualty figures could not immediately be reconciled, as security authorities were still working to establish the full circumstances and final toll of the attack.

The Plateau State Police Command also confirmed that attacks had occurred but indicated that investigations were ongoing and that further details would be provided after the facts had been established.

The identities and motive of the attackers remained unknown as of Tuesday, while security agencies continued efforts to locate those responsible.

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The Dungus Kuru bus attack came amid a series of other deadly incidents reported in parts of Mangu Local Government Area, further raising concerns about the possibility of retaliatory attacks.

In Alohom community in Mangu, three young Fulani herders were reportedly killed in an attack.

The victims were identified as Garzali Shaibu, 18; Bashiru Yakubu, 14; and Salim Abubakar, 15.

Security reports indicated that 36 cattle were also killed, while another 12 sustained gunshot injuries. Two other members of the herding group were initially reported missing.

Troops deployed to the area reportedly recovered the bodies of the three victims.

Members of the affected Fulani community alleged that suspected Mwaghavul militia were responsible for the attack. The allegation, however, had not been independently established by security authorities, and no particular group had been officially identified as responsible.

The violence reportedly continued in Vodni community in Mangu LGA, where suspected attackers killed two people and injured several others.

Reports on the incident also indicated that children were among those affected, with five children reportedly found injured inside a house after troops responding to a distress call arrived in the community.

The injured children were evacuated to Mangu General Hospital for treatment.

Another attack was reported in Tahoos in Riyom Local Government Area, where two people were reportedly killed.

The incidents across Jos South, Mangu and Riyom brought the reported death toll from the fresh violence to at least 13, although community accounts suggested that the figure could be higher.

The latest Plateau violence has renewed concerns about the fragile security situation in the state, particularly in communities where disputes involving farming and herding populations have previously triggered cycles of attacks and reprisals.

The killing of passengers travelling in a commercial vehicle has also raised fresh concerns about the safety of motorists and commuters using roads connecting communities around Jos South and neighbouring local government areas.

Residents fear that the latest killings could lead to retaliatory attacks if security agencies fail to identify the perpetrators and prevent further violence.

Security forces operating under Operation Enduring Peace have continued patrols and responses in affected areas, while authorities are expected to intensify surveillance and efforts to apprehend those responsible.

Community leaders and security agencies are also under pressure to prevent the latest incidents from escalating into wider communal violence and to protect residents, farmers, herders and commuters across vulnerable areas.

For now, investigations into the Dungus Kuru attack and the other incidents are continuing, while authorities work to establish the final casualty figures, identify the perpetrators and determine the motives behind the attacks.

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