The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Semilore Olalekan, the importer of the fireworks that wreaked havoc in Lagos State on December 26, 2012.
It was gathered that Olalekan was arrested by a team of police officers, who had trailed him to his hideout on Lagos Island.
A police source revealed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, gave an order to his officers to arrest the importer as a “New Year” gift to the resident of Lagos State.
It was gathered that following the CP’s order, the officers swung into action and arrested the importer, whose warehouse, full of firecrackers, exploded at the Jankara Market, Isale-Eko, Lagos Island, killing one person, injuring 44 others and destroying houses, cars and properties worth millions of naira.
There was a twist, however, when it was gathered that the importer had the permission of the office of the National Security Adviser and the Commissioner of Police Explosive Ordinance Department of the Nigeria Police Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit, Foluso Adebanjo, to import the fireworks, the source said.
The source added that the police knew the importer relatively well as he has been importing fireworks into the country since 1998, with his importing licence allegedly renewed by the police in August 2012.
The Chairman of the Lagos Island Local Government Area, Wasiu Eshinlokun, blamed the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Customs Service for the firework explosion at the Jankara Market.
Eshinlokun said that the Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigeria Police should be held responsible following their failure and neglience to check the influx of the fireworks as well as arresting the importers.
The traders in Jankara Market had also accused the police of serving as escorts for truckloads of fireworks into the market.
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