∆ UK PM Keir Starmer

The UK Home Office said on Thursday that from August 1, anyone caught in possession of a ninja sword in private could face six months in prison.

The forthcoming ban is intended to curb what the British government has called a “national” knife crime “crisis”.

The Home Office said most ninja swords had a blade of between 14 and 24 inches (36 and 61 centimetres), with one straight cutting edge and a tanto style — or sharply-angled — tip.

The Home Office said that there is already a penalty of up to four years in prison for carrying any weapon in public.

The ninja sword ban is the final part of the so-called Ronan’s law, a raft of anti-knife crime measures introduced in parliament last month as part of the government’s crime and policing bill.

The measures include making retailers report bulk or suspicious sales to police and a rise in jail terms to two years for selling weapons to children.

The law is named after teenager Ronan Kanda, who was murdered with a ninja sword in 2022 by two other teenagers in a case of mistaken identity.

Three of the 12 inmates who escaped during a jail break at Koton Karfe correctional centre in Kogi State have been rearrested.

The Acting Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Sly Nwakuche disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday at the Koton Karfe correctional centre.

He regretted that one of the officers of the correctional service was killed by the escaped prison inmates.

Nwakuche vowed that the remaining escapee will be apprehended.

He called on the general public to provide security agencies with all the needed information that will lead to the arrest of all the prison inmates who escaped from custody.

Kogi State Government has vowed to work with security agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding an early morning jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Center in Kotonkarfe, where 12 inmates escaped.

Officials have confirmed that one of the escapees has already been rearrested and is providing valuable information to law enforcement.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured citizens that the government is taking decisive steps to prevent a recurrence.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Fanwo said.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the State Security Adviser to collaborate with the Federal Correctional Center and other security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.

The state government has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting federal security agencies through logistics and other necessary resources to enhance their operational effectiveness.

Fanwo commended the swift response of security agencies in handling the situation and urged residents to remain vigilant.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harboring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.

While investigations continue, the government has assured residents that the situation is under control.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo added.

Security agencies are intensifying efforts to track down the remaining escapees, and authorities have promised to provide updates as the situation unfolds.