A hard-hitting petition from a Zamfara civic group has placed Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security, at the centre of an escalating political storm.
The “Concerned Citizens of Zamfara,” led by Dr. Yazidu Muhammad Namoriki, submitted the document to the Presidency this week, urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to open an urgent inquiry into what they describe as “grave misconduct” by the senator.
The petition accuses Buba, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, of actions it claims could be fuelling the violence that has plagued parts of the North-West and North-East. According to the group, unnamed sources allege that the lawmaker has at times aided criminal groups, including moving wounded fighters for treatment and intervening in local disputes under the guise of livestock vaccination.
“These reports, if corroborated, undermine the integrity of national security institutions,” the petition stated, adding that “no public servant should be allowed to compromise the safety of Nigerians.”
The group also called for the federal government to consider freezing or seizing any assets found to have been acquired through ransom or other illegal channels if an investigation confirms wrongdoing.
Security analysts say the allegations underline the need for rigorous vetting of officials overseeing sensitive portfolios. “The claims are explosive,” one analyst told our correspondent, “but they remain untested. The priority now is a transparent, evidence-based inquiry.”
As of press time, Senator Buba had not publicly responded to the allegations, and calls to his office were not immediately returned.
Presidential aides declined to confirm whether the petition would trigger an investigation but stressed that the administration remains committed to combating banditry and holding all public officials to account.
Observers say how the government handles the petition could send a signal about its resolve to tackle both insecurity and impunity at the highest levels of power.