Damilare Mohammed Bello, the Ogun State House of Assembly member arrested in connection with the recent cult clash in Sagamu, has a previous arrest record for allegedly instigating chaos in the town.

In the latest arrest that was carried out by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday morning, Bello, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the lawmaker representing Sagamu Constituency I, was accused of offering shelter to cult members.

Before the lawmaker’s arrest, the Eiye confraternity and the Black Axe, two rival cult groups, had clashed in the town over the weekend.

While still recovering from the tragic loss of some innocent lives to the violent clash, indigenes of the town have continued to express concerns over the incessant acts of bloodshed that was fast becoming a constant feature around them.

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A report by Channels TV revealed that the DSS also arrested five other suspects on Thursday.

That, however, was not the first time Bello would be arrested for a violence-related offence.

BELLO’S ARREST IN MARCH

While the cash crunch triggered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s naira redesign policy bit hard on Nigerians earlier this year, many citizens became agitated by the untold hardship they were made to face during the period.

With time, the agitation blossomed into quite a handful of protests in many parts of Nigeria.

In the protest that took place in Sagamu in February, angry youth vandalised and burnt down several banks and public infrastructure due to their inability to have access to cash.

After the violent protest, the DSS arrested Bello, who was then a lawmaker-elect, on March 21.

According to a news report, the security agency said Bello was involved in the violence.

The report partly reads: “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.

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

‘HE’S A FORMER CULTIST’

Meanwhile, a Sagamu resident who asked not to be named, told FIJ on Thursday that the lawmaker’s previous and recent arrests could be in connection with his past as a former cult member.

The resident described Bello as a former leader of one of the most feared cult groups in the town.

“This is just a classic case of one’s past catching up with one,” the resident said.

“He was once a leader of one of those cult groups. I don’t know the exact group, but what I know is that he was once a leader of one of the cult groups.

“He renounced his membership before he became a politician but, you know, once things like this happen they will always want to visit your past. This automatically makes you a suspect any time an investigation needs to be carried out.

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“During the time he was a cult leader, I never heard that he was involved in any violence or that he led a group of people to perpetrate violence.

“His arrest during the naira scarcity were just mere allegations, and they (the DSS) had to eventually release him when they found nothing that could lead to a potential prosecution on him.

“I think it’s a question of his past catching up with him.”