The death toll from Wednesday’s attack on a mosque at Gadan, a community in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, has risen to 11, the police and residents of the area have said.

Residents said they buried at least 11 victims of the attack, mostly aged persons.

A resident of the community, Shafi’u Abubakar, had sprayed the mosque with fuel, locked worshippers inside and set it ablaze. The police initially said Mr Abubakar used a petrol bomb, but locals believed no explosive device was involved.

It would be recalled that one person died while on admission at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital following the incident that affected almost 40 people, including children.

The police spokesperson in Kano, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said on Thursday that 11 victims of the attack had died as of that morning.

Kiyawa said 13 more victims were receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital.

The police arrested Mr Abubakar immediately after the incident early Wednesday morning.

The state commissioner of police, Usaini Gumel, earlier told reporters that Mr Abubakar, 38, had told investigators that he targeted the worshippers over a family dispute over the sharing of an inheritance.

Residents who spoke feared that the casualty figures could rise judging by the severity of the injuries of those in hospital.

Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, convicted kidnapping kingpin, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant, Joseph Emeka, have opted for a plea bargain agreement in the murder case against them.

Evans and Emeka are charged with murder and attempted kidnapping before an Ikeja high court.

They were scheduled to be re-arraigned on a five-count charge before the court on Thursday.

However, at the court session, the re-arraignment was stalled due to the absence of Evans’ counsel.

Yusuf Sule, lead counsel for the prosecution, informed the court that the defendants had applied for a plea bargain.

He said the plea bargain option is being considered by Lawal Pedro, Lagos state attorney-general and commissioner for justice.

“I am aware that the defendants have applied for a plea bargain, but it is being considered by the attorney-general,” he said.

“We have an amended charge, my lord, because the fourth defendant has been convicted while the third defendant died in prison.

“We shall be asking for another date for the re-arraignment of the defendants.”

Adenike Coker, presiding judge, adjourned the case until June 13 for the re-arraignment of Evans and Emeka.

“In view of the absence of counsel to the first defendant, this case is hereby adjourned until June 13, and the first defendant is directed to ensure his counsel is in court,” the judge said.

“There is no excuse for his absence.

“In the light of the amendment charge before the court, the case against the third and fourth defendants is struck out.”

Evans and Emeka were standing trial before Oluwatoyin Taiwo, a judge, before her retirement.

They allegedly killed Peter Nweke and Chijioke Ngozi on August 27, 2013, in the Festac Town area of Lagos.

They were also charged with the attempted kidnapping of Vincent Obianodo, chairman of Young Shall Grow Motors.

In February 2022, Akeem Oshodi, an Ikeja high court judge, convicted Evans and two others on two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping.

They were found guilty of kidnapping Donatus Dunu, chief executive officer (CEO) of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

The prosecution said they kidnapped Dunu in Lagos on February 14, 2017, and collected £223,000 (N100 million) as ransom from his family.

On February 25, 2022, the suspects were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Convicted billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as Evans, and his co-defendant Joseph Emeka, charged with murder and attempted kidnap have opted for plea bargain.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state lead counsel, Mr Yusuf Sule, informed the court about the plea bargain option on Thursday when the case was called for re-arraignment.

The case was called for re-arraignment before Justice Adenike Cokers of an Ikeja High Court.

Evans and his co-defendant were to be re-arraigned on an amended five-count charge bordering on murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy to commit felony, wit: kidnapping and attempt to murder.

Sule informed the court that the case was for re-arraignment but he was aware the defendants have applied for plea.

The prosecutor, however, said the plea bargain terms were being considered by the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN).

More later…