By Mick Oseji, Asaba
Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Trade and Export, Mrs. Shimite Bello, has died in mysterious circumstances that have left people with worry and suspicion over the likely cause of her tragic death.
Mrs. Shimite Bello Love (née Nwakalo), known famously in government circle as Madam Sabificate, allegedly died of poisoning on Easter Sunday.
According to SaharaReporters, family sources said that her husband, Pastor David Favour Love, has been arrested by the police following allegations that the wife died of food poisoning. Those who saw her lifeless body claimed she was foaming at the mouth before her death.
The late special adviser was said to have passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital, Asaba, where she was rushed to for emergency treatment.
The late female politician, who contested the Oshimili North constituency seat in the Delta State House of Assembly during the 2023 PDP primaries, had earlier served as the Executive Secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency during the immediate past administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.
She was also the Group President/CEO of the Quintessential Group—a conglomerate comprising NGOs, social enterprises, and companies operating in agriculture and solid minerals.
A family member, who craved anonymity, said that Shimite was in good health just a day before her demise.
The anonymous source, claimed that the family’s alarm was raised when Shimite’s maid called her elder brother, expressing concern that the husband had locked the governor’s aide in the house all day.
The source said, “I spoke with her for over an hour on Saturday. She was vibrant and told me about a meeting she had earlier attended. Nothing was wrong with her,” the source said. “On Sunday, I sent her Easter messages, but she didn’t reply—which was unusual.
“Her brother rushed over and found her inside the house with foam already coming out of her mouth. He took her to the hospital, but she was declared dead on arrival. The police were immediately called and arrested her husband.
“Since he came into her life, he cut everyone off. Her brother couldn’t even visit. He wouldn’t let her go to the office. He was always trailing her. Even the name on all her properties in Abuja and elsewhere was changed to his name. We believe she was manipulated—hypnotised even.
“If she were not hypnotised, which woman with her right senses would do such? What kind of love is that your husband would follow you everywhere you went, and you wouldn’t see anything wrong with that? Your husband would lock you in and not allow you to go to the office?
“Anytime you tell Shimite about certain things, she would tell you, ‘Don’t worry, my husband is a pastor. He’s my spiritual father. He sees everything.’ It’s very unfortunate Shimite had to learn the hard way. How could a special adviser to a governor just die like that?”
Sources close to the family described Pastor David as “overprotective” and “jealous,” and suggested he was intimidated by Shimite’s prominence and beauty.
•Shimite and husband, Bello
“The man had nothing before meeting her. He only came to drain her. It’s heartbreaking.”
Efforts to reach the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, were unsuccessful, as his mobile line was unreachable at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, Shimite’s body has been deposited in the mortuary as police investigations into her death continue, according to Saharareporters.