The Bayelsa state Police Command, on Sunday said that it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of an innocent person shot in error by police while responding to a distress call.
Mr. Asinim Butswat, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Police Spokesman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa that one of the three people shot in error on Saturday died in hospital.
Asinim, who said that investigation into the incident had commenced, said that the policeman who fired the shot was immediately identified and taken into custody.
“On 22 October 2016, at about 1730 hours, policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad responded to a distress call of cult attack at Ekeki village, Yenagoa.
“The policemen were ambushed by the cultists.
“Consequently, a police sergeant fired a bullet, it ricocheted and injured three persons who were unfortunately not among the cultists.
“The victims were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for treatment and one of them later died.
“The sergeant who fired the shot has been detained. Investigation is ongoing,” Buswat said. (NAN)