A pepper soup seller in Kwale, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State slumped and died after men of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Delta State Police Command shot sporadically into the air while trying to apprehend a suspected vandal nearby.
The 50-year-old deceased, whose identity has not been verified, was not hit by a stray bullet, witnesses told Vanguard, but died after exhibiting signs of being in shock on hearing the gunshots.
Confirming the incident, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, Celestina Kalu said the Squad was after the National President of Ndokwa Youths Alive Progressive Forum, NYAPF, Mr. Ozegbe Adoh.
She said there was a petition from the Nigeria Agip Oil Company to the Squad accusing Adoh of vandalising its Independent Power Plant at Okpai in Ndokwa East Local Government Area on November 19, 2015.
The PRO stated that Adoh was a prime suspect in the vandalism of the power plant.
This led the Squad to trail Adoh to Esumpi Road, where he was arrested, but not before the men shot into the air to ward off any planned resistance.
It was this action that purportedly led to the death of the pepper soup seller, whose shop was close to the one where Adoh was arrested.
Kalu said investigation was ongoing.