The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has urged security authorities to reopen investigations into allegations linking Senator Shehu Buba Umar to banditry and terrorism.
The Council cautioned against politicising national security issues, stressing that allegations of such magnitude should be subjected to thorough investigation rather than being determined through public accusations.
The latest position followed renewed claims associating the Bauchi South senator with suspected bandits and criminal networks operating in northern Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Secretary General, Nafiu Baba Ahmad, the SCSN called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to independently investigate the allegations and provide clarity on the senator’s previous dealings with security agencies.
According to the Council, the gravity of the allegations requires the appropriate authorities to establish the facts and communicate their findings to Nigerians, subject to legal and national security considerations.
“The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has followed with deep concern the renewed allegations linking Senator Shehu Buba Umar to acts of banditry and terrorism.
“In view of the grave nature of these allegations and their potentially far-reaching implications for national security, the Council considers it necessary to once again restate its position and urge caution against the politicisation of security matters, unsubstantiated speculation and campaigns of calumny that could undermine public confidence and distract from the collective effort to combat terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.”
The controversy has also featured claims concerning the activities of certain suspected criminal figures and the senator’s previous contacts with individuals involved in security-related engagements.
Senator Buba has denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated.
He also challenged the interpretation of videos being circulated on social media, arguing that some of the footage had been manipulated or shared without the context needed to properly understand them.
Earlier, former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, had asked the DSS to make public the outcome of its investigation into allegations allegedly connecting Senator Buba with suspected bandit Abubakar Idris.
Dalung sought clarification on whether the security agency had investigated the matter, whether the senator was cleared and whether anyone was prosecuted after the alleged investigation.
The renewed controversy has attracted particular attention because of Senator Buba’s previous position as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
The SCSN, however, said its engagement with the senator formed part of wider consultations aimed at finding solutions to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
The Council explained that it had been in discussions with security agencies and government institutions since late 2023 as part of efforts to complement military operations with non-kinetic strategies.
“It was within the context of the Council’s sustained engagements on finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s security crisis that, from late 2023, we intensified consultations with relevant security and government institutions, particularly the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).”
It said the consultations were focused on identifying practical approaches to addressing the root causes and evolving dynamics of terrorism and banditry across the country.
According to the Council, its engagement with Senator Buba was prompted by his position at the time as head of the Senate committee overseeing national security and intelligence.
“Like other responsible and concerned organisations seeking solutions to the nation’s security challenges, the Council engaged relevant stakeholders on the need to complement military operations with credible non-kinetic approaches capable of addressing the underlying drivers and dynamics of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria.”
“It was through this process that the Council came to engage with Senator Shehu Buba Umar in his capacity at the time as Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence,” the SCSN stated.
The Council also reiterated that it has never endorsed terrorism, banditry or any form of violent activity.
“For decades, the Council has remained at the forefront of engaging, advising and constructively pressuring successive governments on the urgent need to decisively address terrorism, insurgency, banditry and other forms of violent criminality in Nigeria.”
It said its advocacy on insecurity had remained unchanged across successive administrations, including those of former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, as well as the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The SCSN further restated its longstanding advocacy for the protection of civilian lives.
“Throughout the years of the Boko Haram insurgency and the more recent escalation of banditry and other violent crimes, the SCSN has consistently emphasised the sanctity and inviolability of human life. We have made it abundantly clear that every innocent life is sacred, whether Muslim, Christian or of any other faith or background.”
The Council condemned kidnapping, murder, attacks on communities and other forms of violence.
“The Council has repeatedly and unequivocally condemned the barbaric, inhuman and criminal acts perpetrated by terrorists, bandits and all other agents of violence.”
“Kidnapping, murder, destruction of communities and all forms of terror can never be justified by religion, ethnicity, politics or any other consideration.”
The SCSN had also defended Senator Buba in 2024 when similar allegations of involvement in banditry emerged. At the time, the Council described the claims as unfounded and cautioned against using allegations relating to insecurity as a means of damaging the reputation of public officials.
