Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos, CSP Adebowale Lawal, on Wednesday reaffirmed the ban on street carnivals and the use of fireworks during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Lawal added that the ban on street carnivals and the use of fireworks would also help to avoid unnecessary bloodshed during the festivities.
He said,” Following instructions from the Inspector-General of Police, any form of street carnival and the use of fireworks still remain banned.
“The idea is to prevent undesirable elements from hiding under the guise of celebrating with fireworks to unleash mayhem on innocent members of the public.
“We don’t want anyone to lose his or her life in the cause of celebrating this period.
“The rivalry fights between cult members often start from some of these street carnivals and we do not want such incidences to happen during this year’s celebration.”
In the event that street carnivals must be held by any, the Divisional Police Officer must be contacted for approval, Lawal added.
The PPRO disclosed that policemen were regularly patrolling the markets to ensure that the sale of fireworks was not ongoing.
Lawal said, “We have our men everywhere, especially in the markets to ensure that fireworks were totally removed.
“This is because fireworks have the same sound as some of the guns these criminals use and people cannot differentiate them.
“The ban will help us to secure people during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
He was full of praises for the media over their contributions and for partnering with the police to curb crime in Ogun and Lagos State.
He added that the media had bridged the gap between the members of public and the police.
The Lagos State Police Command had on Tuesday, December 15, banned the use of fire works in the state during the Christmas and New year festivities, threatening to deal with any defaulter within the ambit of the law.