Prison officials in South Africa have confirmed that the jailed leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), Mr. Henry Okah, tried to escape prison but failed. Speaking on the botched freedom bid by the convicted Nigerian terrorism mastermind, Manelisi Wolela, spokesman for South Africa’s department of correctional services, told AFP: “I can confirm that Okah is one of the five inmates that attempted to escape and whose efforts were foiled.”

Wolela did not give details of the attempted escape from Leeukop prison in northern Johannesburg that is said to have taken place in January.

Okah was convicted last year and sentenced on 13 counts of terrorism, including twin bombings that killed 12 people in the Nigerian capital Abuja as the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of its independence in 2010.

He was arrested, tried and convicted in South Africa where he has permanent residency.

The department said most of the offenders involved in the botched bid to escape are serving life sentences for serious offences including murder, kidnapping and robbery.

Correctional services officials said security at the prison, which recorded 11 attempted jail breaks in the 12 months until March last year, had been tightened.

•Photo shows Okah in the dock in South Africa during his trial.