Headline

Uvalde City, Texas, To Pay $2 Million To Families Of School Shooting Victims

Published

3 weeks ago

May 23, 2024

Editor

The city of Uvalde has reached a $2 million settlement with families of the victims of a 2022 mass shooting at a public school in the Texas city, one of the lawyers of the victims said on Wednesday, May 22.

The announcement comes nearly two years after a teenage gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School. Law enforcement officers killed the gunman in a classroom after waiting more than an hour to confront him, which was heavily criticized in the wake of the shooting.

In the settlement announced Wednesday, the city of Uvalde will pay a total of $2 million to the families of 17 children killed in the shooting and two children who survived, according to a statement from the families’ attorneys.

“Pursuing further legal action against the City could have plunged Uvalde into bankruptcy, something that none of the families were interested in as they look for the community to heal,” the statement said.

The money will come from the city’s insurance coverage, attorney Josh Koskoff told reporters at a news conference.

“These families could have pursued a lawsuit against the city, and there’s certainly grounds for a lawsuit,” Koskoff said. “Let’s face it, sadly, we all saw what we saw … but instead of suing the city and jeopardizing the finances of anybody, the families have accepted simply the insurance.”

The city said the settlement will allow people to remember the shooting while “moving forward together as a community to bring healing and restoration to all those affected.”

“We will forever be grateful to the victims’ families for working with us over the past year to cultivate an environment of community-wide healing that honours the lives and memories of those we tragically lost,” the city said in a statement. “May 24th is our community’s greatest tragedy.”

The families were also working on a separate settlement with Uvalde County, Koskoff said.

Javier Cazares, whose 9-year-old daughter Jackie Cazares was killed in the shooting, said the last two years have been unbearable.

“We all know who took our children’s lives, but there was an obvious systemic failure out there on May 24,” Cazares said.

“The whole world saw that. No amount of money is worth the lives of our children. Justice and accountability have always been my main concern. We’ve been let down so many times. The time has come to do the right thing.”

“The settlement also includes the Uvalde Police Department committing to provide enhanced training for police officers and implement a new standard for officers to be developed in coordination with the U.S. Justice Department, according to the families’ attorneys.

“The city also committed to supporting mental health services for the families, survivors and community members, creating a committee to coordinate with the families on a permanent memorial and establishing May 24 as an annual day of remembrance, in addition to taking other measures.”

The families are also taking new legal action against 92 state Department of Public Safety officers and the school district, including former Robb Elementary School principal Mandy Gutierrez and Pete Arredondo, the school district’s police chief who was fired months after the shooting.

“Law enforcement did not treat the incident as an active shooter situation, despite clear knowledge that there was an active shooter inside,” Wednesday’s statement said. “… The shooter was able to continue the killing spree for over an hour while helpless families waited anxiously outside the school.”

Koskoff said the state’s officers on the scene could have done more to respond to the shooting.

They acted “as if they had nothing to do as if they didn’t know how to shoot somebody, as if they weren’t heavily armed and the most well-trained,” Koskoff said.

Headline

Okomu Attack: Edo Govt Has Failed In Its Responsibility; We Need Military Base – Community

Published

5 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Editor

…say we’re Ijaw people; we have no link to Okagheles, cultism

Following incessant attacks on Okomu community, indegenes of the community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, to provide them military base in the community.

Recall that some militia allegedly led by one Lawrence Yanbor invaded the community on May 14, 2024, burnt down over 30 houses in the community, shot some Edo State Security Network personnel in their base and also set ablaze a Horse Power Speed Boat donated by the Edo State Government.

The terrorists were said to have also invaded the community on June 7, attacked military personnel, shot the traditional ruler of the community and also carted away ancestral valuables.

In a statement issued by Chief Edwin Denmene, the Ibeiyaidonwei of Okomu, on behalf of Okomu Traditional Council; Comrade Ayewa Eres, Vice Chairman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Okomu clan, and Comrade Samson Yanbor, former Vice Chairman, IYC, West Zone, and made available to Info Daily, said until military base is stationed in the community and the culprits arrested, the attacks would persist.

“We want the government to come to our aid; we need a military base in our community to ensure peace in the community. If this is not done, and Lawrence is not arrested, this problem will continue,” the statement added.

Speaking further, Chief Denmene said they have written several letters to the Edo State Government seeking to meet with the governor but to no avail, adding that they have also petitioned the Commissioner of Police and Director of Department State Services (DSS) in the state.

He said: “We have been calling on the State Government for intervention. Personally, the community has written letters to the governor and also informed him on this issue, but up till now nothing has been heard from the government.

“Even the local government chairman was informed of the incident on the second day of the incident. The chairman of the local government met with some persons affected in Benin and promised to meet with the governor alongside the affected persons, but up till now, we have not heard from the local government chairman, neither have we heard from the governor.

“We believe that the government has failed in its responsibility of securing the lives and properties of Okomu people. This is almost a month, we have not heard from the government. I don’t know if Okomu community in Ovia South West is not part of Edo State,” he stressed.

On the government linking the attacks to cultism and Okagheles, the Okomu Chief said: “The statement by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, linking the attack in Okomu community to Okagheles and cultism was a pure mixup. The attack on Okomu has nothing to do with cultism or Okagheles, it is purely criminality.”

“We are purely Ijaw people, we don’t know what is called Okagheles in Ijaw communities.”

Also speaking, Vice Chairman, IYC, Okomu clan, Comrade Ayewa lamented that due to the attacks, the community has been deserted, adding that many are currently in the bush taking refuge while others have fled to neighbouring communities for safety.

He, therefore, appealed to the leaders of the Ijaw nation across the Niger Delta and beyond to rise to the challenge of rescuing Okomu from attack.

Headline

Tinubu Sacks BPE DG, Makes Replacement

Published

8 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ayodeji Ariyo Gbeleyi as the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

The president’s spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, stated this in a statement on Saturday.

The statement noted that Gbeleyi is a renowned financial expert and award-winning chartered accountant.

It said he is a fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

According to the statement, Gbeleyi is also an alumnus of executive programmes of the prestigious London Business School, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and Lagos Business School.

It stated that Gbeleyi has over 30 years of post-qualification experience in diverse sectors, including manufacturing, fast-moving consumer goods, investment and commercial banking, project finance, telecommunications, infrastructure, and public administration.

The statement added, “He was the Board Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State from 2013 to 2015.

“The President expects the new Director-General to bring his vast experience and competence to bear in this role to strengthen the agency as the national resource centre for capacity building and sustenance of reforms through the promotion of a competitive private sector-driven economy, ensuring social accountability and efficient deployment of public resources, as well as advancing effective corporate governance and fiduciary discipline in the public and private sectors.”

Headline

Sanwo-Olu Releases N1bn Science, Research Innovation Take Off Grant

Published

12 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated the newly constituted State Science, Research and Innovation Council, LASRIC, and Cybersecurity Advisory Board in its quest to advance scientific innovations with the sum of N1 billion take off grant.

How my mum’s arthritis made me study Wood Therapy — Dr. Ebubedike, Process Therapist-1

The event that took place at the Lagos House, Ikeja, at the weekend, was presided over by Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, who announced the take-off grant of N1Billion, for the effective commencement of the activities by the board.

Sanwo-Olu stated that his administration was committed to increasing the success metrics with the provision of LASRIC Seed fund.

According t him, “With the provision of LASRIC Seed fund to the tune of N1,000,000,000 in the first tranche payment to the council.

“We believe this fund would continue to catalyze development in our dear State.”

The Governor noted that the sustenance of the development of the State is the central focus of the present administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda, adding that to drive deeper positive economic outcomes, it was essential to establish an innovation, science, and technology body to manage and propel Lagos State’s engagement with the science and technology ecosystem.

Sanwo-Olu noted that within the research and development, LASRIC has supported more than 70 initiatives, ranging from projects in biomass and biodiesel to artificial intelligence for medical imaging, adding that “their efforts have increased innovation activity within the state by over 250 per cent.”

The Governor, enumerated the key areas of responsibilities of the government to the newly recommissioned LASRIC board, which includes: Increased funding and support, collaboration and partnerships, capacity building, focus on local challenges, promotion of a culture of innovation, and LASRIC SEED FUND, adding that “all these areas will increase the ecosystem science, innovation, and technology of the state.”

Sanwo-Olu noted that the board is composed of experts from industry, academia, and the public sector, with the mission to deepen and expand innovation activities in Lagos.

While congratulating the newly constituted council, the governor stated that “It is my expectation that the new LASRIC being inaugurated today will work assiduously towards ensuring the realization of our collective goal and aspiration congratulate the Chairman and members of the Board for heeding the call to serve.

“I have no doubt in my mind that you will bring to bear on your new assignment your experience and expertise which informed your selection to serve the government and the people of Lagos State.”

In an earlier event, Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the state cybersecurity council, charging them with the mandate to establish a robust protection ecosystem that will ultimately safeguard the quality of life for all its citizens, stating that the inauguration of the State’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board marks a significant step in its commitment to enhancing digital security and advancing the development agenda in the state.

“Given these escalating threats, it is imperative for Lagos to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity protection strategy.

“The growing use of digital tools offers both opportunities and real-world risks to our development. Today’s inauguration aligns with our goal of transforming Lagos into a smart, livable, and cyber-protected city,”the Governor said.

Earlier, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Tobosun Alake, stressed that Sanwo-Olu administration has continued to enhance technology and digital solutions which will increase the quality of livelihood of its citizens.

The commissioner stated that the inauguration of both LASRIC Board and the State’s Cybersecurity Advisory Board was a testament to Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration’s commitment to innovation science and technology and protecting the state ecosystem.

Also, both Chairmen of the newly inaugurated boards, LASRIC, Professor Olumuyiwa Odusanya and Cybersecurity, Dr. Osakwe Fene, assured the government of their commitments to the mandate of the council, to protect and promote cybersecurity, science and technology towards the development of the ecosystem of the state and its citizens.

The duo added that technology and cybersecurity are pivotal to the development of any country, especially in achieving the making Lagos a 21st-century economy goal, stressing that “the present administration is open to different innovative ideas that will continue to enhance the economy of the state and as the 5th largest economy in Africa.”