A candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, elected member of the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Sagamu constituency 1, Damilare Bello, has been arrested by operatives of the Department of Security Service over the recent Sagamu mayhem that destruction of property worth several millions of naira.
Bello is alleged of masterminding the Sagamu riots that also left several banks vandalised during the naira scarcity protest.
It was gathered that the suspects had turned down several invitations by the security agency, a report by The Punch newspaper said.
Bello popularly known as Dre was said to have been on the run since the incident till his election on Saturday
A source at the DSS disclosed to our correspondent on Wednesday, that Bello’s arrest was carried out following the protest which took place on 20th February 2023 in Sagamu town, in Sagamu local government area of the state.
During the protest, some irate youths vandalised about 10 commercial banks and other public infrastructures.
A source in the DSS command informed that “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 governorship candidate of the PDP in the state, Oladipupo Adebutu, has reportedly visited the state office of the service.
The source disclosed further that the PDP had sent three different delegations led by its chairman, Sikirulah Ogundele and other chieftains to mend fences with the command.
The source said the visit was used to clear misconceptions of the service over the invitation and the eventual arrest of the suspect.
The source said, “Adebutu himself visited the command Wednesday, with a view to mending fences with the service and as well clear the past misconceptions about the office and realised that the service is a credible institution that must be reckoned with.
When contacted for confirmation, Adebutu’s media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, said his boss was at the DSS office.
However, Orekoya 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.
