Yuletide: fireworks, bangers boom in towns

  Emeka Ibemere.

Aside the buzzing and rattling of the guns from the Nigerian Soldiers exchanging gun dual in the evil forests of Mumbai and Sambisa in the war zones of the North East and West of the country, the next noise are the ones from bangers and fireworks, as if there are no laws against it.

From Ajangbadi in Ojo areas of Lagos State to Ajegunle in Ifelodun/ Ajaromi Local Government Area, to Ikotun in Alimosho to FESTAC Town and from Isolo to Oshodi, to Onitsha in Anambra South East zone and to Calabar, to Uyo and to Warri all in South-South, it has been bangs! Bangs!! And bangs! They are fireworks and knock-outs, as it’s commonly called.

Manufacturers and Importers of the bangers and fireworks, including the Shop retail owners are smiling to their banks, as youths invade the shops in last minute of mop up buying of the devices in readiness for the Christmas and New Year events. 

However, with the yuletide remaining eight days to go, the various Lagos State Police Commands and the Force Headquarters have placed ban on the use of fireworks throughout the country.

But despite the ban on the use of fireworks and bangers by Nigeria Police, the materials and devices are still booming in Lagos State and its environs. Checks by our correspondent can reveal.

The command's Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Ken Nwosu in his Press Release, entitled: ‘Ban on the use of Banger and other Fireworks During the Yuletide Season’ and dated December 15, 2014 and was made available to Newswatch Times, the Police Command warned that,

 “In a bid to ensure safety and avert all dangers associated with the use of banger and other fireworks especially during harmattan season, the Lagos State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that the use of such fireworks is banned”. The police Press Release stated.

“Parents and Guardians are therefore advised to warn their children and wards to desist from the use of such fireworks to avoid being caught on the wrong side of the law, as defaulters will be punished”.

According to Nwosu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command, CP C. K Aderanti, have assured the Lagos State residents of their safety during the celebrations.

The ban didn’t say what happens to the sellers of fireworks, popularly called knock-out bangers. It was understand that importers of such items risked being arrested for flouting the order.

Even as the ban has been applauded by some residents of Lagos State, and other states, observers are worried about implementation and enforcement of the order by the various State police commands.

Over the years, the ban has been one of the rituals of the police; banning fireworks from sale to the Nigerian public during Christmas seasons.

These simple fireworks consist of a rolled paper tube filled with gunpowder with a fuse at the top. The banger is lit and then usually discarded by throwing it. After a short pause the banger explodes with a loud bang. Investigations showed that the ban was taken on a number of grounds because of their potential to cause injury through misuse.

 Experts stated that such ban is necessary to discourage misuse by children. Bangers are still on sale in Nigeria on yearly basis in Nigeria and nobody has been convicted before now for throwing banger and fireworks. 

Every retail shops in Oshodi, Mile 2, Okota, Isolo, FESTAC Town, Surulere, Ijesha, Ojota, Yaba, Ojuelegba, and others have been flooded with the items and are sold in public without any fear of the police by the traders.

 There isn’t a fireworks retailer in Nigeria who has not been stockpiled his or her shop with fireworks and bangers ready to sale during the New Year. Some bangers are dangerous, especially Chinese Crackers.

Ubochi Akandu told Newswatch Times that governments both state and federal are guilty of fireworks and bangers because they also use it during day and night time celebrations and parties.

The crackers are still available to professional displayers. Fireworks are made from a long tube of crackling powder and are legally classed as a fountain. The emergence of Boko Haram has increased the fear of fireworks and other explosives.

From Abuja, the prevailing security situation in the country, the FCT Police Command also banned the use of fireworks and bangers during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Peter Okechukwu, made this known in a press statement made available in Abuja.

He stated that any violator arrested would face the full wrath of the law and appealed to parents and guardians to prevail on their children and wards to desist from this act, as it heightens panic and fear.

Okechukwu said: “Police Patrol Teams and Undercover Detectives have been deployed throughout the territory to monitor and arrest any violator.

“Furthermore, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers are under strict instruction to arrest, detain and prosecute any perpetrator of this act.”

As if that wasn’t enough, the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, also warned Nigerians against acceptance of wrapped gifts from unknown persons that may pose as friends.

He also cautioned against use of fireworks, bangers as they may cause distraction which would further heighten insecurity.

In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Ag Commissioner Emmanuel Ojukwu, Abba warned “all citizens to be vigilant while receiving gifts from unknown persons that may pose as friends during the season, to avoid explosive-laden hampers as gifts and also caution against the use of fireworks such as knockout, “bangers” and other explosives in the celebration as they could cause distraction that may further heighten fear of insecurity.”

Abba also added that commissioners of police in the state commands must guarantee the safety of Nigerians.

Meanwhile Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Abdul Jelili Adesiyan in a statement also assured Nigerians that Federal Government would curb insurgency before 2015 general elections.

He said “Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that elections will be held across the country, including Yobe, Borno and Adamawa, I want to reaffirm that the federal government is making concerted efforts to ensure that the spate of killings and bombings in the northern part of the country become a thing of the past before the conduct of the general election slated to hold next year February.”

Firecrackers are commonly used in celebration of holidays or festivals, such as New Year, Halloween, and Independence Day

It was discovered that firecrackers, as well as other types of explosives, are subject to various laws in many countries, although firecrackers themselves are not usually considered illegal contraband material.

It is usually the manufacture, sale, storage, and use of firecrackers that are subject to laws including safety requirements for manufacture, the requirement of a permit to sell or store, or restrictions on the use of firecrackers.

The use of firecrackers, although a traditional part of celebration, has over the years led to many injuries. There have been incidents every year of users being blinded, losing body parts, or suffering other injuries, especially during festivities that customarily involve firecrackers such as New Year season. Security agencies and many governments have enacted laws completely banning the sale or use of firecrackers, or banning the use of firecrackers in the street, primarily because of safety issues but the orders have not yielded solutions.