Delta State has been plunged into grief following the tragic death of Chief Mrs. Shimite Bello, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Trade and Export, who was allegedly poisoned by her husband, Pastor David Favour Love, in the early hours of Easter Day, April 21, 2025.
According to sources, the incident occurred after a minor quarrel between the couple. Shimite Bello was reportedly locked inside their home by her husband and was found foaming at the mouth by her elder brother after a distress call from her maid. She was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital, Asaba, but doctors confirmed her death despite efforts to save her.
A family member, speaking anonymously, revealed that Shimite was in good health just a day before her death. “I spoke with her for over an hour on Saturday. Nothing was wrong with her. On Sunday, I sent her Easter messages, but she didn’t reply, which was unusual,” the relative said.
The Delta State Police Command confirmed the death, with spokesperson Bright Edafe stating that the exact cause is still under investigation. Pastor David Favour Love has been arrested and is currently in police custody in Asaba.
Friends and colleagues have expressed shock and sorrow over the loss. Maxwell Ajufo, a close friend, described the death as “heartbreaking” and mourned the loss of a vibrant and promising life. “The sun was still at noon in her life. She had so much ahead—so much to give, to share, to become. This is too heavy to carry,” he lamented.
Shimite Bello was a distinguished public servant and entrepreneur. Before her appointment as Special Adviser on Trade and Export, she served as Executive Secretary of the Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration. She also contested the Oshimili North constituency seat in the 2023 PDP primaries and was the Group President/CEO of the Quintessential Group, which operates in agriculture and solid minerals.
Known for her brilliance, purpose, and intellectual alertness, Shimite Bello was a respected politician, policy maker, financial literacy advocate, and public speaker. Her untimely death has left a void in Delta State’s political and business communities.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death continues as Delta State mourns the loss of one of its brightest daughters.
