.Stop using DSS to harass opposition, PDP tells Abiodun

The member, representing Sagamu State Constituency (1), in Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Damilare Bello Mohammed, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a cult clash in Sagamu, last weekend.

He was arrested alongside six suspected cultists, over the clash, which started on Wednesday and continued till Sunday, leading to several deaths.

The Guardian learnt that the lawmaker was alleged to have provided shelter to the fleeing cultists.

A team of security operatives, comprising men of the Department of State Services (DSS), following a tip-off, arrested the suspects in the lawmaker’s premises.

Sources said many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered from them.

According to sources, those arrested include Debo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya, and Tobi Owoade.

They are undergoing interrogation at the DSS Headquarters in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The development is coming months after the DSS arrested Bello for masterminding the violent protest in Sagamu over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

During the protest, Irate youths vandalised about 10 banks and other public infrastructure.

When contacted, spokesperson for Ogun State Police Command, Superintendent of Police (SP), Omolola Odutola, said they were not involved in the incident.

Meanwhile, Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it called ongoing media trial of Hon. Damilare Belllo, ‘who was arrested last night by the officers of the Department of Security Service (DSS), in false connection with the last Sagan mayhem.’

Bello is a sitting Member at the Ogun State House of Assembly representing Sagamu Constituency 1 and a member of the PDP.

The party in a statement by its 𝘗𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺, Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, said as much as it does not object to DSS or any security agency investigating the Sagamu carnage which has allegedly claimed more than 25 lives, it thinks that the investigation was not being conducted with optimum professionalism and sincerity.

“The ruling government of Prince Dapo Abiodun is currently supervising the over-sensationalisation of the arrest as news of the arrest was being carried by all State-Owned media organisations, even when nothing incriminating was found in his residence at the time of his arrest yesterday.

“The whole thing is an orchestrated attempt to give the honourable a bad name just to hang him.

“It is also interesting that the Sagamu residence of the honorable member was seriously vandalised earlier by some suspected All Progressive Congress (APC)-enabled thugs.

The same man, who returned from London to Abeokuta where he raised contributions on the floor of the House yesterday concerning security matters in his constituency.

“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 his rudderless APC against perceived opponents.

“As a law-abiding political organization, our great party will work with the DSS, and indeed other security agencies in ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State, but we shall also not fold our arms and watch the governor, who is still bitter with imminent electoral defeats to throw innocent members of the public under the bus,”the party added.