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KADUNA, September 7, 2026 — The Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) has called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct an independent investigation into renewed allegations linking Senator Shehu Buba Umar to banditry and terrorism — a marked shift from the Council’s earlier, unequivocal defense of the senator in 2024.

In a statement dated Monday, September 7, 2026, and signed by Secretary General Nafiu Baba Ahmad, the Council said the “grave nature” of the renewed allegations carries “potentially far-reaching implications for national security” and called for the authorities to “swiftly, thoroughly and independently investigate the renewed allegations and make the outcome known to Nigerians.”

“To the best of our knowledge, such engagements and efforts formed part of legitimate initiatives aimed at supporting the broader national security architecture and were appreciated by the heads of these offices at the highest levels,” the Council said, referring to Buba’s prior work with security institutions. But it added that “the renewed allegations therefore make it imperative for the relevant authorities to clear the air.”

From Defense to Demand for Clarity

The shift is notable given the Council’s own history on the matter. When allegations first surfaced in October 2024 — following a petition from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed to President Bola Tinubu alleging a Buba aide facilitated a suspected bandit’s Hajj travel documents — the SCSN moved quickly and forcefully to Buba’s defense, describing the accusations as “baseless and malicious” and accusing unnamed politicians of “Machiavellian tactics in settling personal political scores.”

As recently as early September 2026, the Council was still publicly defending Buba in similar terms, warning that accusing “individuals who are actively working to combat insecurity” distracts from Nigeria’s real security challenges. Just days later, that position has changed. Monday’s statement explicitly recalls the Council’s 2024 defense, but pivots to demanding that ONSA and DSS “provide Nigerians with necessary clarification regarding the nature and context of their working engagements with Senator Shehu Buba Umar.”

According to the statement, the SCSN’s relationship with Buba dates to late 2023, when the Council began consulting with security institutions — including ONSA, DSS, and the Chief of Defence Staff — on “non-kinetic approaches” to combating terrorism and banditry. It was through that process, the Council said, that it came to engage with Buba in his capacity as then-Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

What Prompted the Shift

The statement does not specify a single new piece of evidence driving the reversal, but it lands amid weeks of escalating claims against Buba. Those include a viral interview with a man identified as Hassan, who alleged he filmed bandits collecting weapons at Buba’s residence before a mass-casualty attack in Benue State, and earlier videos alleging bandit “kingpins” visited the senator’s home — claims that a fact-check by PRNigeria previously found were based on a spliced, misrepresented video. Buba has separately filed a complaint against a reporter covering the allegations, according to social media posts cited in Nigerian press coverage of the dispute.

The SCSN did not take a position on the credibility of Hassan’s specific claims. Instead, it called for the underlying question — the nature of Buba’s security-sector engagements — to be settled by the relevant authorities rather than argued out in public.

Council’s Broader Message

Beyond the call for investigation, the Council urged restraint from all sides. “Security matters must be handled with patriotism, facts and a genuine commitment to justice,” the statement said. “While credible allegations must be properly investigated, unsubstantiated accusations must not be allowed to become weapons for character assassination or political witch-hunts.”

The SCSN also reaffirmed its position that “every innocent life is sacred, whether Muslim, Christian or of any other faith or background,” and said “kidnapping, murder, destruction of communities and all forms of terror can never be justified by religion, ethnicity, politics or any other consideration.”

Neither Senator Buba nor ONSA and DSS had publicly responded to the Council’s call for clarification as of this report.