‘If They Finally Kill Me, I Have Paid My Dues’ — D English Alhaji Raises Alarm as Shehu Buba Controversy Deepens
Nigerian social media personality and self-described conflict reporter John Aruma Azi, popularly known as D English Alhaji, has raised fresh concerns over his personal safety as controversy intensifies around serious allegations involving Senator Shehu Buba Umar, who represents Bauchi South Senatorial District.
In an emotional video that has generated reactions online, D English Alhaji suggested that his continued involvement in exposing alleged links between influential individuals and criminal networks could put his life at risk.
“If they finally kill me, I have paid my dues,” he said, according to reports documenting the video.
The disturbing statement comes amid renewed public debate following allegations made by a man identified simply as Hassan during a series of interviews conducted by D English Alhaji.
Hassan publicly accused Senator Buba of links to individuals allegedly associated with banditry in northern Nigeria. The allegations are serious, but they remain claims that have not been established by a court or independently proven.
Hassan Names Senator in Explosive Interview
The controversy escalated after Hassan, during an interview with D English Alhaji, identified Senator Buba as the politician he had previously referenced while discussing alleged political connections to criminal networks.
According to reports of the interview, Hassan claimed that individuals allegedly connected to wanted bandit leader Dogo Gide had been brought to Abuja for specialised training.
He further alleged that one of the individuals involved had worked as an aide to Senator Buba at the National Assembly.
Hassan urged Nigerians not to accept his claims simply because he made them, but instead to scrutinise the materials and allegations and demand responses from those accused.
The claims quickly attracted attention on social media, where insecurity, terrorism and the possible involvement of politically connected individuals remain deeply sensitive issues.
However, no publicly available court ruling has established that Senator Buba sponsored terrorism or banditry.
That distinction is crucial.
D English Alhaji Says He Fears for His Life
Against the backdrop of the controversy, D English Alhaji has now publicly raised the possibility that he could be targeted because of his activities.
His statement — “If they finally kill me, I have paid my dues” — has intensified discussion about the risks faced by whistleblowers, journalists, activists and online investigators who make allegations against powerful individuals.
Rather than retreating from the controversy, his comments suggest he understands the potential consequences of continuing to amplify the claims.
The development has consequently shifted part of the conversation from the allegations themselves to his personal security.
Any credible threat against a citizen over lawful expression or journalistic activity deserves serious attention. At the same time, allegations involving national security must be handled responsibly, with evidence subjected to independent scrutiny rather than being accepted solely because they have gone viral.
Senator Shehu Buba Denies Allegations
Senator Buba has rejected allegations that he promotes or supports banditry.
In an interview reported by Premium Times, the senator offered a different account of his relationship with Hassan.
Buba said Hassan had originally been introduced to him as an orphan who needed assistance with his education. According to the senator, he helped connect Hassan with a cleric who assisted him in securing admission into Islamic and conventional schools.
The senator also said he provided Hassan with a bicycle to make travelling to school easier.
According to Buba, the relationship later deteriorated after Hassan decided to leave school.
The senator accused Hassan of taking advantage of access to his residence to secretly obtain photographs and videos of visitors, which he claimed were subsequently used as propaganda by political opponents.
Buba said he had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter and maintained that the allegations against him were politically motivated.
He has consistently denied supporting criminal groups.
Earlier Viral Video Raises Questions
There is also reason for caution when assessing materials circulated in connection with the controversy.
In August, PRNigeria investigated a viral video promoted by D English Alhaji which purported to show high-profile bandits inside a senator’s residence.
The fact-checking organisation concluded that the viral content combined separate video clips and created a misleading impression.
PRNigeria reported that men appearing in one portion of the footage were Kaduna-based businessmen and pilgrims who had visited Senator Buba in 2023.
The organisation said it found no evidence establishing that those men were bandits.
Another section of the circulated footage showed different individuals displaying Nigerian passports. According to the fact-check, there was no evidence establishing that the separate scenes were recorded at the same location or formed part of the same event.
PRNigeria consequently rated the viral narrative false and misleading.
That previous finding does not automatically prove or disprove Hassan’s latest allegations. It does, however, demonstrate why every piece of purported evidence connected to such serious accusations must be independently authenticated.
Allegations Demand Evidence, Not Social Media Verdicts
Nigeria’s long-running insecurity crisis has claimed thousands of lives, displaced communities and placed enormous pressure on security agencies.
Any credible evidence showing that public officials are assisting criminal organisations would therefore constitute a matter of grave national importance.
But allegations, regardless of how serious or widely circulated, cannot substitute for proof.
Available public reporting shows that Hassan has made accusations against Senator Buba and that the senator has publicly denied wrongdoing.
There is currently no publicly known court judgment establishing that Senator Buba is guilty of sponsoring terrorism or banditry.
This means the appropriate response should not be a social-media conviction.
Instead, relevant security and law-enforcement institutions should independently examine any credible evidence presented by the accusers and establish the facts.
If the evidence supports criminal allegations, the law should take its course regardless of the status of those involved.
If the allegations are false, deliberately manipulated or politically motivated, that too should be established through a credible investigation.
Nigerians Demand Answers
The controversy highlights a broader challenge facing Nigeria: balancing the need to expose wrongdoing with the equally important responsibility to prevent unverified accusations from becoming accepted as facts.
D English Alhaji’s fear for his safety should not be dismissed. Any specific or credible threat against him should be investigated and appropriate protection considered.
At the same time, the allegations being amplified through his platform require rigorous verification.
For Senator Buba, the controversy is unlikely to disappear simply through denials. The seriousness of the accusations means Nigerians will continue demanding clarity about the claims, the people mentioned and any evidence presented.
For Hassan and D English Alhaji, the burden remains to provide verifiable evidence capable of surviving independent scrutiny.
Ultimately, Nigeria needs facts more than viral accusations.
The truth about allegations involving terrorism, banditry and public officials cannot be determined by the loudest voice on social media. It must emerge through credible evidence, independent investigation and, where appropriate, judicial proceedings.
Until that happens, the claims against Senator Shehu Buba must remain exactly what they currently are serious allegations that demand investigation, not established facts.
