By Favour Goodness
The sale and use of fireworks and knockouts have been banned by the Anambra State Police Command.
The State Police Command says checkpoints may increase across the state if the need arises to guarantee crime-free festive season especially as the state will play host to people from different parts of the country for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Commissioner for Police, Echeng Eworo Echeng, exclusively disclose in an interview with our Corespondent in Awka on Thursday.
He said the ban would be enforced before and during the Yuletide.
He said the ban was part of a proactive move by the command to sustain existing peace and contain criminal activities associated with the period.
“Fireworks constitute a nuisance, disturb public peace, and cause unnecessary fear, apprehension, and danger of possible fire outbreaks.
“This is in addition to the possibility of providing an escape space for criminals after the commission of a crime.
While calling on parents and guardians to prevail on their children and wards to desist from the sales and use of fireworks, firecrackers, knockouts, and other combustible materials, Echeng warned persons trading in the banned items to seek alternative means of livelihood or be arrested and prosecuted.
He urged Anambra residents to be more vigilant and security conscious, and promptly report any suspicious activity within their locality to security agencies
The CP said a monitoring team for a 24-hour surveillance at the River Niger Bridge-Head, Onitsha for free flow of movements and crime control during he festive period had also been set up.
Echeng said the Christmas season should be observed under a tranquil and serene atmosphere devoid of chaos and mayhem.
He explained that checkpoints were part of the strategies put in place by the command to checkmate crimes, though he also disclosed that the command would deploy intelligence officers to gather intelligence on traffic control.
The CP said the police command was in synergy with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to check traffic gridlocks that might arise from the checkpoints, adding that the command would do more to ensure that Anambra citizens enjoyed the peace they longed for.
