COVID-19 Lockdown: Pessu Was Mistaken For A Suspect By The Army Officer—Police Source

By Dafe Rukevwe
A police source has revealed that the middle-aged man, Joseph Pessu, shot dead by a soldier in Warri, two days into the lockdown order by the Delta State Government to curb the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, was mistaken for a suspect.
This disclosure was made by a police officer who did not want his name in print.
The deceased was allegedly killed on Thursday at Ogunu axis of Warri South Local Government Area while attempting to escape from his Toyota Camry car.
The source explained that the deceased had suspiciously driven through a police checkpoint at Ubeji community with his car without a plate number.
According to the source, the action prompted the police at the checkpoint to draw the attention of the soldiers who were on patrol for reinforcement.
“When the deceased refused to stop, the soldier went after him and shot at one of the rear tyre.
“The young man continued to drive the car with a burst tyre until he got to Ogunu. He blocked the road with his car, jumped out and started running. It was then the soldier assumed him to be a suspect and shot at him. Immediately, the incident happened, the soldier drove directly to the Area Command of the Nigeria Police to report himself.
“As we speak, the man is devasted and we cannot get information from him.”
The said source was one of the police officers at the Ubeji checkpoint.