The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has
launched anti-piracy offensive in the North-East and
arrested six suspected film pirates, Mr Augustine
Amodu, the commission’s Director of Enforcement, has
said.
Amodu made the disclosure in a statement made
available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Thursday in Abuja.
He said that the offensive was part of the commission’s
zero-tolerance drive against piracy in all its forms across
major cities and markets in the six geo-political zones of
the country.
He said: “the enforcement raid against the suspected
film pirates was carried out by a team of Copyright
Inspectors backed by armed policemen.
“Such operations will continue unhindered because
piracy is a menace to our economy.
“The Commission in this new offensive will not relent in
its effort until the activities of suspected pirates is
stamped out of the region.
“It is no longer business as usual for pirates, so that
right owners can enjoy the reward for their efforts.’’
The director pointed out that as part of its enforcement
operations in the North-East, the Commission raided
suspected film pirates in Bauchi metropolis.
He said that a total of 1, 611 pirated DVDs and 2,200
empty packets used in packaging pirated DVDs, worth
N321, 550 were seized from the suspects.
He said that the six arrested suspects were granted
administrative bail while investigation is ongoing.
NAN recalls that, as part of its intensified enforcement
operations across Nigeria, NCC had in March seized and
destroyed pirated items worth N2.4 billion in Enugu
state.
It also carried out anti-piracy raid at the Alaba
International Market, an acclaimed hub of piracy
activities, with pirated products worth millions of naira
seized and many suspects arrested. (NAN)
