ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) – The police in Anambra State have said it was set to clamp down on shops and outlets that sell fireworks, popularly known as “knock-out’’ in the state.
The state’s command Public Relations Officer, Mr Uche Eze, told newsmen in Onitsha that the spate of the usage of fireworks during yuletide was becoming a threat to security in Anambra.
He said “it is relatively difficult to get the people using the fireworks so we are going to arrest the owners of shops that sell knock out and shut the shops.
“Just yesterday, we thought there were gunshots somewhere in the G.R.A section of Awka but when our team went there, it found out that it was firework display by some individuals, who fled when they saw police approaching.
“We have to stop this madness before it gets out of hand.’’
The police spokesperson urged the public to be security conscious as the yuletide approached and advised that people should always endeavour to board buses at designated auto parks and not on roadsides.
He said “everyone should make effort to know who is living around him or her, know the objects in your vicinity, ask questions or report any irregularities to the police, sister security agencies or neighbourhood leaders.’’
On the spate of prisons breaks, Eze said there had been renewed collaboration by police and prisons’ armed squad to guard the four prisons in Anambra – Aguata, Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha.
“Our recent collaboration in conjunction with the prison’s armed squad by stationing more mobile police officers at the prisons was to ensure that we have a proactive measure on ground.
“The police commissioner has mandated mobile patrol team to keep surveillance on the prisons, especially armed personnel guarding it, while ensuring that they are alive and stationed always.’’
