On December 2011, Boko Haram detonated a bomb at St Theresa's Church in Madalla in Niger State, close to the Federal Capital territory, killing 44 and injuring 75. In December 20 2013, Sokoto, also known as Mr Dikko, was jailed for life by the Federal High Court in Abuja after being convicted of being the mastermind behind the gruesome attack.
Over the last week, rumours have been rife that Mr Sokoto has been released but this has been vehemently denied by the NPS. Biyi Jeje, the NPS spokesman, said that the rumour should be disregarded as Mr Sokoto remains in their custody.
Mr Jeje said: "Please disregard the rumour, as he’s still in prisons custody. There’s no truth in the reports claiming that Mr. Dikko had been released."
It has been rumoured that Mr Dikko, 32, might have been released as part of a purported prisoners swap deal between the federal government and Boko Haram. Over recent months, Boko Haram has demanded the release of its members held by the government in exchange for Chibok schoolgirls abducted by the group in 2014.
While the federal government has indicated interest in a prisoners swap deal with Boko Haram, the modalities for this have yet to be made public. Mr Dikko, was first arrested on January 1, 2012 by the police but he escaped from custody two days later when he was being taken to his residence at Abaji, Federal Capital Territory, for a search but was re-arrested at Mutum-Biu in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State in February 2012 and subsequently charged under Section 4(1) (a) of Terrorism and Prevention Act of 2011.
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