DSS Arrests Ogun Lawmaker Over Cult Killings, PDP Kicks

• The Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Damilare Bello, an Ogun State House of Assembly member, and five others connected to a cult war
• The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) condemned Bello’s arrest, alleging it was orchestrated to tarnish his image

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Damilare Bello, a member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, and five others in connection with the recent killing of approximately 20 people in a renewed cult war in Sagamu.

According to our sources, Bello, who represents the Sagamu Constituency, was arrested alongside Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya, and Tobi Owoade.

It was also reported that a lawmaker elected on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform was arrested for his alleged involvement in the violence.

The PDP confirmed Bello’s arrest by the secret police in a statement issued in Abeokuta by its Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Bankole.

The PDP, on the other hand, condemned Bello’s arrest, saying, “As much as we do not object to the DSS or any security agency’s investigation into the Sagamu carnage, which allegedly claimed more than 25 lives, we believe the investigation is not being conducted with optimum professionalism and sincerity.”

Despite the fact that nothing incriminating was discovered in Bello’s home at the time of his arrest on Wednesday, Bankole claimed that “the whole thing is an orchestrated attempt to give Hon Bello a bad name just to hang him.”

He said;

It is also interesting that the Sagamu residence of the honourable member was thoroughly vandalised earlier today by some suspected APC-enabled thugs. The same man who returned from London to Abeokuta where he raised contributions on the floor of the house yesterday (Wednesday) concerning security matters in his constituency.

We have always held that the Sagamu killings are a direct fallout of the criminal empowerment of cultists against the people by the APC.

The onus is, however, on the DSS to rise above partisanship in its duties. The security outfit is a creation of the law and should not be reduced to a mere tool of a political witch hunt by both the governor and APC against perceived opponents.

He charged the State government “to look inward, search its inner circles in Sagamu LG so as to see where the smoke is coming from.”