DSS Arrest Ogun Lawmaker For Masterminding Mayhem

Damilare Bello, a member-elect of the Ogun State House of Assembly has been arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS).

Bello was elected to represent Sagamu constituency 1 in the Ogun legislaure.

Bello, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate is accused of masterminding the Sagamu mayhem that left several banks vandalised during the naira scarcity protest.

It was gathered that the suspect had earlier turned down several invitations by the DSS.

Popularly known as Dre, Bello was said to have been on the run since the incident till his election on Saturday.

A DSS source disclosed on Wednesday that Bello’s arrest was carried oit as a consequence of the protest which took place on February 20, 2023, in Sagamu town.

During the protest, some irate youths vandalised about 10 commercial banks and other public infrastructures.

"On  March 21, 2023, at about 14:30 hours, the command apprehended one Oluwadamilare Bello over his alleged complicity in the act of economic sabotage.

“Preliminary investigation has commenced and the suspect may be prosecuted for a crime relating to arson and disturbing of the public peace, amongst others upon conclusion of an investigation.

“The suspect is being investigated on economic sabotage /crime of national security dimension,  arson, and disruption of public peace among others.

“The arrest is not politically motivated as it was being reported.”

Meanwhile, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu, has reportedly visited the state DSS office.

It was revealed that the PDP had sent three different delegations led by its chairman, Sikirulah Ogundele and other chieftains to mend fences with the secret police.

The source said the visit was used to clear misconceptions of the service over the invitation and the eventual arrest of the suspect.

When contacted for confirmation, Adebutu’s media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, said his boss was at the DSS office.

Orekoya, however, declined further comment on why his boss visited the command 24 hours after the party held a protest at the Independent National Electoral Commission office in Abeokuta.