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Las Vegas shooting becomes deadliest in US history as death toll hits 55

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No fewer than 55 people have been confirmed dead following the mass shooting that occurred Sunday night in Las Vegas.

The number of injured has surpassed 200.

The incident is now officially the deadliest in the history of United States.

The killings took place outside a building at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino during the Route 91 country festival.

The shooter fired into the crowd from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

The attacker was later killed in a shoot-out with police.

Cole Watson, who was at the concert with his wife and kids, said “at first it sounded like someone was setting off a whole lot of fire crackers”.

He said when they “realised it was gunfire, everybody started running”

“The scene was insane – it was absolute chaos,” Watson told Al Jazeera by telephone.

Wade Millward, a journalist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, told Al Jazeera that gun fire echoed while country-music star Jason Aldean was performing.

“Witnesses told me they heard a sound like fireworks going off,” he said.

“Aldean played on for about thirty seconds before it dawned on everyone that this was not fireworks. Then people hit the ground and people ran.”

Watson said he saw several injured people when he and his family ran from the scene of the attack.

Stephen Paddock Las Vegas shooting becomes deadliest in US history

Stephen Paddock

The event was the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a three-day country music event. The Festival was held at the Las Vegas Village and Festival Grounds, run by MGM Resorts. It happened at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
The gunman fired from a Las Vegas hotel.

Country singer Jason Aldean was performing, when the shooting started. Several SWAT teams were sent to the hotel immediately after the first reports of the shooting at 10:08 p.m Shortly before midnight the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that “one suspect is down,”.

He was neutralised in a hotel room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.Numerous weapons had been found in the room. A search was also due to take place shortly at his home address.

Thereafter the police said they did not believe there were any more active gunmen.The gunman was identified as

Stephen Paddock, 64 from Nevada. More than 50 victims died, and at least 200 others were wounded.
It is one of the deadliest mass shootings in United States history.

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Crime & Court

Human Rights Lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Granted ₦30m Bail

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A Magistrate Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has granted human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, bail to the tune of ₦30 million. The court also mandated Farotimi to provide three sureties with landed properties within its jurisdiction.

As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered Farotimi to refrain from granting media interviews and to submit his international passport to the authorities. The case has been adjourned to February 13, 2025, for further proceedings.

Farotimi, who had been remanded at a correctional center in Ado Ekiti, arrived at the court premises on Friday at approximately 9:45 a.m. He was conveyed in a prison van accompanied by a police escort. Upon arrival, the embattled lawyer raised his hands in appreciation of a cheering crowd that had gathered outside the court to show their solidarity.

The human rights advocate is facing prosecution for allegedly defaming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola. His arrest has ignited widespread public outcry, with many Nigerians and civil society groups condemning the action and demanding his immediate release.

Farotimi’s detention and subsequent arraignment have fueled debates about the boundaries of free speech and defamation laws in Nigeria, with critics arguing that the case may stifle dissenting voices in the country.

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Anambra: Police Arrest Man with Gun Hidden in Rice Bag

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Police operatives have apprehended a 25-year-old man, Enediong Bassey, in possession of a pump-action gun concealed in a bag of rice at Nkwelle-Ezunaka.

The suspect, a native of Ikono Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was arrested on November 22, 2024, at 6:38 pm following credible intelligence.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga.

The statement revealed that officers attached to the 3-3 Divisional Headquarters, led by CSP Emeka Obi, acted swiftly to intercept Bassey.

During interrogation, he admitted to being a member of a local vigilante group but confessed to plans of absconding with the weapon to join a criminal gang involved in armed robbery and other illicit activities.

“Given the above and following other complaints and unprofessional conduct by some security outfits and vigilante members, the Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, in line with the principles of community policing, reiterates the calls for profiling of security operatives assisting the police and other security agencies on anti-crime operations to improve safety in the state,” the statement read.

In light of the situation, the Commissioner of Police has directed the immediate transfer of the suspect to the command’s anti-robbery squad for a thorough investigation.

The Anambra State Police Command reassured residents of its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of lives and property, urging vigilance and collaboration with law enforcement.

 

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Bloggers Denied Bail Over Alleged Blackmail of GTCO, CEO, Citing Repeat Offenses

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Justice Ayokunle Faji of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered an accelerated trial of four bloggers accused of defaming and cyberstalking the management of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), including its Group CEO, Mr. Segun Agbaje.

The defendants—Precious Eze, Olawale Rotimi, Rowland Olonishuwa, and Seun Odunlami—face a 10-count amended charge for allegedly publishing false and defamatory content about GTCO on various social media platforms.

During proceedings on November 13 and 14, Justice Faji dismissed their bail applications, citing the severity of the charges, which carry potential penalties of up to 14 years in prison.

The judge specifically noted that Precious Eze had previously been charged with a similar offense in another court and was on bail at the time of the alleged actions, demonstrating a likelihood of reoffending.

Justice Faji emphasized the destabilizing impact such actions could have on the banking sector, pointing to the cross-border nature of some of the allegations.

“The regulatory oversight of institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should not be undermined by false claims,” the judge remarked, referencing GTCO’s CBN-approved audited statements.

At the previous hearing, defense counsel Afolabi Adeniyi had urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the defendants were ready to stand trial.

However, the prosecution counsel, Chief Aribisala, SAN, opposed the motion, raising concerns about the defendants potentially absconding and stressing the need for a swift trial.

In his ruling, Justice Faji rejected the defense’s plea, ordering an expedited trial to address the case’s significant implications for the financial industry.

The trial has been adjourned to December 10 and 12 for continuation.

 

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