Nigerian police in central north Kaduna region on Monday banned fireworks during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Local Police Commissioner Olufemi Adenaiyeke told reporters that anyone caught using fireworks would be prosecuted.

Adenaiyeke appealed to the local people to cooperate with security personnel at checkpoints during the yuletide to ensure effective security.

He reminded motor cycle riders that the restriction order on the vehicle in Kaduna town and Zaria local government area was still in force.

The police boss said the order in Kaduna would last from 9:00 p. m. local time to 6:00 a.m. local time and in Zaria between 6:00 p. m. local time and 6:00 a.m. local time.

Adenaiyeke appealed to residents to provide relevant information for security agents where necessary and added that the police had taken adequate measures to ensure a hitch-free yuletide.

The country's fundamentalists had laid a siege on northern part of Nigeria with incessant bomb explosions and killings, forcing residents to flee to other parts of the West African country believed to be safe.