Police to begin massive clampdown on fireworks users

The police in Lagos State has said its officers and men will begin a massive clampdown on users of fireworks in the state.
The police is reacting to the Boxing Day explosion at the Jankara Market in the state, where fireworks stored in a three storey building exploded, killing one person, injuring forty others and burning over 20 buildings and cars.
The explosion also resulted in a fire outbreak which destroyed property worth millions of naira.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Lagos State Police Command, Isaac Eke, stated that residents have continued to disobey the law banning fireworks, which in turn had resulted in the wanton loss of lives and property.
Eke said: “The law on fireworks states that nobody should import, produce and use these things but we have deviants, people who disobey the law for selfish reasons.
“They feel since this is Christmas, they should store these things and sell them.
“So that is the problem.
“These people have no regard for the law and now that such a thing has happened, we will begin to check and arrest those behind these fireworks.
“The long arm of the law will catch up with them.”
In his reaction, the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, who visited the scene of the explosion, said persons linked to the fireworks will be tracked down and arrested.
The Nigeria Emergency Management Agency said rescue work at the explosion scene was hindered due to the crowd that invaded the scene.
Following the explosion, it was gathered that the Lagos State House of Assembly will hold an emergency session to address the Jankara Market explosion.
Jankara Market is a highly populated area where traders store their goods and later sell in wholesale.
People also live within the market and its vicinity.