Dowen College: "No one involved in the alleged killing would be spared" - Buhari

Sylvester Oromoni had prior to his death, alleged that five senior students of the Dowen College, Lekki, Lagos State had bullied him for refusing to be initiated into a cult group.

According to new development, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured that no one involved in the alleged killing of Dowen College’s student, Sylvester Oromoni Jr would be spared.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening by his spokesman, Garba Shehu, the president condemned the incident that led to the death of the 12-year-old schoolboy.

The incident which led to the death of the young boy had triggered a reaction from several Nigerians who continued to demand justice for the late schoolboy.

The Lagos State government had launched an investigation into the incident to unravel the controversy surrounding the death.

According to Garba, Buhari vowed that the incident would be thoroughly investigated, stressing that those found guilty, would be punished as a deterrent for others.

He said, “I share the anger and grief up and down the country following this incident. On behalf of my family and I, and the government of the federation, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the Oromoni family, the government and the people of Lagos State and give the firm assurance that this incident will be thoroughly investigated and the appropriate punishment meted out to all those who are culpable.”

The President urged the Police to continue the ongoing investigation until they get to the root of the matter for the law to take its course, assuring that justice will be done, no matter who is involved.

The number of critically ill patients also rose to a record high of 840, up 66 from a day early, while the death toll increased by 63 to 4,020, the agency said. People aged over 60 account for 35% of the total caseload and 84% of critically ill patients, including those whose immunities have waned since receiving their first two vaccine doses early this year.

According to report, South Korea has reported a record daily total of 7,175 new Covid cases as officials urged people to complete their vaccinations.

The prime minister, Kim Boo-kyum, warned that hospitals were coming under intense pressure amid a rise in serious cases, days after the government announced a return to stricter restrictions on social gatherings.

The total caseload rose to 489,484 on Wednesday, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. That was a rise of 2,221 from a day earlier, the biggest daily jump since the start of the pandemic.

Kim said the government would increase the number of hospital beds in the Seoul area, where 80% of infections were reported, but conceded that it would be “tough to catch up with the pace of rising cases”.

It would also mobilise more medical personnel to monitor patients with mild symptoms who are treating themselves at home and speed up hospital transfers among those who develop severe symptoms, Kim told a virus response meeting. Private clinics would be enlisted to treat Covid patients to ease the pressure on large hospitals, he added.

The recent surge, in a country that had been relatively successful in keeping infections and deaths to a minimum, is being attributed to young people who have yet to be fully vaccinated and older citizens who have not received boosters.

Having kept the virus in check for much of the pandemic, South Korea has had, on average, more than 5,000 new cases a day for the past week. It has identified 38 cases of the Omicron variant.

In response, the government introduced stricter social distancing and other measures on Monday that will remain in place until early January, the Yonhap news agency said – a move that came just weeks after it eased measures as part of its “living with Covid-19” approach.

Private gatherings will be limited to a maximum of six people in the Seoul area and to eight outside the capital. The numbers had previously been capped at 10 and 12.

In addition, people wishing to access “high-risk” venues such as pubs, saunas and gyms will have to show proof of full vaccination or a negative coronavirus test.

Kim acknowledged that the measures would create anxiety among small business owners, but added: “We know from experience that if virus prevention falters, then so do people’s lives.”