The Senator representing Bauchi South in the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has raised his voice over what he called claims linking his “name to banditry, terrorism financing and other criminal activities.”
Addressing a press conference he personally called,Senator Umar recalled how smear campaigns politically motivated against him in 2014 were debunked and legal actions taken against spreaders of such falsehoods to clear his name noting that despite actions taken against the allegation, the cycle of falsehoods persists.
He said his lawyers have formally written to the Intelligence Departments to investigate the allegations stating he has taken this step because allegations of terrorism, banditry and terrorism are serious crimes that should not be treated with levity.
His address in full:
PRESS STATEMENT BY SENATOR SHEHU BUBA UMAR ON ALLEGATIONS OF BANDITRY AND TERRORISM FINANCING
September 14, 2026
All praise and gratitude to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. First of all, let me use this opportunity to welcome everyone of you, most especially members of the press, and members of the high table. I think my assignment here is simple. I decided to invite the press, and then to interact with you. So without wasting much of your time, I will go straight into reading my press statement.
Distinguished members of the press, respected leaders, stakeholders, supporters, and fellow citizens of Bauchi State, I thank you for honoring this invitation.
I have called this press conference because the allegations repeatedly circulated against me—claims linking my name to banditry, terrorism financing, kidnapping, and other violent criminal activities—have reached a point where silence is no longer sufficient.
What began as politically motivated smear campaigns against me in 2014 was post-fully debunked, and I took legal actions against those behind it. When the falsehoods later resurfaced in another form, I formally reported the matter to security agencies, and some of the suspects are currently being prosecuted in the Federal High Court.
Yet, despite these steps, the scandalous allegations have continued unabated, taking a disturbing and unfathomable path. These allegations are extremely grave. They touch not only on my name, reputation, and political career, but also on the security of our country and the public’s confidence in the institutions responsible for protecting Nigerians.
For the avoidance of doubt, and despite my deliberate silence over the past month—silence guided by the sensitivity of my official responsibility and the legal restrictions associated with matters already before the court—I categorically and unequivocally deny these allegations. I have never sponsored, financed, armed, facilitated, or supported banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, or any criminal organization or activities whatsoever.
I have nothing to hide and I have nothing to fear from any legitimate investigation. It is for this reason that through my legal team led by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, SAN, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I have voluntarily submitted myself to the Department of State Services, Police, and DIA for a thorough and comprehensive investigation into every allegation made against me.
My lawyers have formally written to the DSS, DIA, and Police, requesting that the services investigate these allegations in the interest of national security and the protection of my reputation and integrity as a Nigerian citizen. I am taking this extraordinary step because I do not believe allegations of terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping against a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be allowed to remain matters of social media speculations. These are serious crimes; they should be investigated seriously.
I therefore publicly invite anyone—politicians, activists, social media influencers, journalists, or any other Nigerian who possesses credible evidence that I have sponsored, financed, armed, facilitated, or supported bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, or any criminal organization—to take that evidence to the relevant security agencies. Do not hide behind social media. Do not rely on edited videos, insinuations, propaganda, or anonymous allegations. Take whatever evidence you have to the appropriate security agencies and allow the law to take its course.
Indeed, this is precisely what I have asked the security agencies to do: invite those making these allegations and require them to substantiate their claims with credible facts and evidence that can withstand rigorous investigative scrutiny.
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