Authorities of the Nigerian Prisons Service has clarified that Kabiru Dikko, the mastermind of 2011 Christmas Day bombing, is still in custody.

Spokesman of Service, Biyi Jeje, made this known on Tuesday while responding to enquiries from newsmen.

“Please disregard the rumour. He’s still in prisons custody,” he said, adding that there is “no truth in all the reports claiming that Mr. Dikko had been released.”

Kabiru Abubakar Dikko, also known as Kabiru Sokoto, was convicted in December 2013 after being found guilty of plotting the bomb attack at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, near Abuja. The attack left about 40 people dead.

Various publications and blogs had reported that the 32-year-old Sokoto may have been released as part of a purported prisoners swap deal between the Nigerian government and Boko Haram sect.

The Boko Haram terrorist group had demanded the release of its members held by the government in exchange for the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the group in 2014.

While the Nigerian government has indicated interest in a prisoners swap deal with the group, the modalities have not yet been finalised.

Sokoto, who was a senior Boko Haram operative, was first arrested on January 1, 2012 by the police, but escaped from custody two days later when he was being taken to his residence at Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, for a search.

He was re-arrested in Mutum-Biu in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State in February 2012 and subsequently charged with Terrorism.

The Federal High Court, Abuja found him guilty of terrorism and handed him a life sentence on December 20, 2013.