ASABA, Nigeria — Shimite Bello Love, Special Adviser to the Delta State Governor on Trade and Export, has died in what authorities and family members are treating as a suspected case of poisoning.
Her husband, Pastor David Favour Love, is in police custody in connection with the death, which occurred on Easter Sunday.
Popularly known as “Madam Sabificate,” Mrs Bello was reportedly rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital in Asaba, where she was declared dead on arrival.
Witnesses said she was foaming at the mouth when discovered, raising immediate concerns about foul play.
Police have yet to release an official statement, but family members allege that Bello’s husband poisoned her and had a history of isolating her from her relatives and colleagues.
A Sudden and Shocking Death
Bello, who previously served as Executive Secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency under former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, had also contested the PDP primaries in 2023 for a seat in the Delta State House of Assembly.
She was the founder and Group President/CEO of the Quintessential Group, an organisation involved in social enterprise, agriculture, and solid minerals.
According to family sources, the 20-year marriage between Bello and Pastor David was marked by control and alleged psychological manipulation.
“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,” said a family member who asked not to be named.
By Sunday, however, her brother was alerted by a domestic staff member that Bello had been locked indoors all day by her husband.
When the brother forced his way into the house, he found her unresponsive and foaming at the mouth.
Allegations of Abuse and Control
Family members say Bello’s relationship with her husband had become increasingly isolated.
They allege that Pastor David controlled her finances, barred her from office engagements, and changed the ownership of her properties to his name.
“Since he came into her life, he cut everyone off,” said one source.
“Her brother couldn’t even visit. He was always trailing her. She would say, ‘My husband is a pastor. He’s my spiritual father.’ It’s heartbreaking.”
The relationship, according to sources, raised concern among friends and relatives, many of whom feared she had been psychologically manipulated.
Police Investigation Ongoing
Police were notified immediately following her death and arrested Pastor David at the scene.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, could not be reached for comment.
Shimite Bello’s body has been deposited at a local mortuary as authorities await autopsy results.
As the investigation unfolds, her death has sparked wider discussions about domestic abuse, power dynamics in relationships, and the vulnerability of high-profile women in Nigeria.
