There are many conflicting theories here; one goes that Nidal was one of the Shabbiha as he looked like one of them as opposed to a poor farmer who was trying selling produce from his farm. This theory claims that Nidal was spying on the demonstrators in Banias as it did not make much sense for an Alawai farmer to sell vegetables to Sunni demonstrators right after the humiliation they went through by the security forces.
Another theory claims that the Syrian Intelligent Services played a role in his torture and killing. The last theory was he was killed because he was just an Alawi as simple as that.

By the way, what’s your take on Hamzeh Alkhatib and others who were tortured and killed by the Syrian Government?