The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has arrested three bookshop owners in Rivers State on charges of book piracy. The arrests followed an anti-piracy operation in the Port Harcourt area, where suspected pirated books valued at approximately ₦3 million were confiscated.
Abdul Babatunde, Director of the NCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate, announced the operation on Tuesday. He emphasized that the suspects are under investigation and will face prosecution once their involvement is confirmed.
Babatunde stressed the NCC’s commitment to protecting the rights of authors and other stakeholders in the copyright sector, aiming to minimize piracy in Rivers and Bayelsa states. The commission, led by Director-General Dr. John Asien, maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward copyright violations.
He also warned booksellers, printers, and importers against engaging in piracy, and urged the public to avoid supporting pirates, highlighting that such actions are criminal offenses under Section 44 of the Copyright Act, 2022.
One of the arrested suspects, Mrs. Chinyere Ezediora, claimed she was unaware of the anti-piracy laws, as she had recently entered the business. The NCC has called on the public to provide credible information to help combat piracy in the region.
News Editor