Kano State Directorate of Societal Reorientation, A Daidaita Sahu, has cautioned parents to ensure that their young children do not unduly disturb the populace with fire crackers, popularly known as knock-out explosives.

"Such crass attitude of using knock-out explosives is not only disturbing and out of order, but also frightens people. Indeed, when the knock-out is exploded in front of people's houses and they got frightened, the children subsequently mock them," a statement signed by the directorate's Director General, Mallam Bala Muhammad, said.

The directorate also called on parents to be very watchful on the movements and activities of their children during this period of Christmas and New Year celebrations to avoid their disappearance and loss.

The directorate noted that the call is imperative in view of the massive complaints of the public lodged to the directorate about rampant disappearance and loss of their children during the period of Christmas and New Year festivities.

"Parents must be watchful of the movements of their children because of incessant reports of missing children which often result from sheer negligence of parents who just allow their younger children to go out without older children accompanying and safeguarding them against foreseeable dangers", it said.

The statement also said everybody should know that children deserve close attention because they are Allah's trust bestowed on people. "...and He shall inevitably ask about how we look after His trust", the statement said.

According to the statement, The Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW), has said "you are all shepherds, and you shall all be asked how you looked after your flocks (in the hereafter)".

The directorate also charged parents not to allow their wards engage in unnecessary drumming and screaming within the neighborhood during the period of Christmas and New Year celebrations, adding that Islam has warned strongly against encroachment on other people's civic rights.

"Therefore, parents have to prevent their children against engaging in such nuisance. Indeed, the parents have to investigate where those children source the money to buy explosives so as to make sure they are not stealing", it said.

It then called on security agents mandated to ensure that law and order is maintained in society to redouble efforts at curbing the menace of fire crackers during the yearly celebration and severely punish whoever disturbs the public with knock-out explosives.