Bauchi Forum Fires Back at ‘Baseless Lies’ Linking Senator Shehu Buba to Bandits, Church Demolition

From Paul Orude Bauchi

The Bauchi Forum of Gentlemen (BAFOG) has come out swinging against what it calls “a fresh wave of political blackmail” aimed at discrediting Senator Shehu Buba Umar representing Bauchi South in the National Assembly ahead of the 2027 elections.

In a fiery press briefing in Bauchi on Friday, BAFOG Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Yakubu Muhammad accused “desperate political opponents” of orchestrating false reports to tarnish the senator’s image and derail his rising political momentum.

The allegations—published by Sahara Reporters—claim the Bauchi South senator has ties to notorious bandit leader Bello Turji and that he demolished a church in Plateau State to build a mosque.

Muhammad dismissed the claims as “laughable, malicious, and completely detached from reality”, warning that such tactics threaten Nigeria’s fragile unity.

“This is nothing but a deliberate political hit job. Senator Shehu Buba’s background, training, and record of service make it impossible for him to be associated with criminals of any sort,” he said.

The BAFOG coordinator reminded journalists that this was not the first time Senator Buba had faced unfounded accusations. He pointed to an earlier episode in which Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, alleged that Buba had links with bandits—claims later debunked by security investigations.

On the Plateau church demolition story, Ibrahim ridiculed the allegation as “a product of ignorance and mischief.”

“Anyone familiar with Plateau’s land laws and religious sensitivities knows it is impossible for any Muslim to bulldoze a church and replace it with a mosque. The story is not just false—it’s an insult to people’s intelligence,” he added.

BAFOG accused the Sahara Reporters piece of deliberately exploiting religion to sow division between Senator Buba and his Christian constituents, stressing that the senator enjoys a cordial relationship with Christian leaders and communities.

The group issued a vote of confidence in Senator Buba, praising his peace-building work in Northern Nigeria, his legislative performance, and his commitment to improving the lives of ordinary citizens.

“We are standing solidly with him. We believe he will not only win in 2027 but will continue to deliver for the people well beyond,” Ibrahim declared.

He also called on media practitioners, politicians, and the public to avoid “weaponizing lies” for political gain, referencing Chapter 49, verse 5 of the Holy Qur’an, which warns against acting on unverified information—a moral principle he said is equally upheld in Christianity.

BAFOG concluded with a direct challenge to those behind the allegations: “If you have evidence, present it. If you don’t, stop polluting the public space with poisonous propaganda.”