As Nigeria enters the festive Yuletide season with millions preparing to celebrate Christmas and New Year, the Niger State Police Command has taken extraordinary steps to guarantee peace and prevent festive chaos. The Commissioner of Police, Adamu Elleman, has ordered a wide deployment of officers and operational assets across the state — and boldly reiterated a strict ban on the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics to safeguard lives and property.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesman, the deployment covers places of worship, motor parks, recreation centres and highways, where security will be visibly strengthened before, during and after the celebrations. Officers have been directed to adopt intelligence-led and high-visibility patrols to reassure residents and deter criminals looking to exploit the festive season.

Niger’s move mirrors similar festive security measures unfolding across the country. In Kaduna, Ebonyi and Yobe, police commands have also deployed tactical units and warned youths to refrain from fireworks — citing safety risks and the potential for miscreants to commit crimes under the cover of the noise. Meanwhile, as road travel surges ahead of Christmas, security agencies nationwide have beefed up patrols to prevent crime spikes associated with increased human and vehicular movement.

Fireworks bans have become a central theme of Yuletide security strategies in recent years — with police in other states like FCT, Osun and Abia also enforcing similar restrictions to curb accidents, fire outbreaks and undetected criminal activity during large celebrations.

Security analysts say the combination of enhanced deployment and tight restrictions on fireworks reflects a broader national effort to prevent seasonal criminal exploits and ensure that festive joy isn’t marred by tragedy or disorder. Residents have been urged to cooperate fully with security personnel and report suspicious activities as celebrations intensify.