Properties worth about N32.7 million have been seized and destroyed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in Delta state.
The three-day anti-piracy raid which started last Tuesday in Warri and Ughelli metropolis of the state, also saw the arrest of six persons for varying illegal broadcasting act.
Speaking at the end of the exercise, the Director of Enforcement, NCC, Mr. Augustin Omodu, reiterated the president Muhammadu Buhari-led government’s commitment to zero tolerance for piracy in broadcasting.
Stating that the menace was also affecting the federal government considering the evasion of tax, among other issues, by the perpetrators, he warned those engaged in the acts to stop or face the wrath of the law.
“First, the pirates do not pay tax and government is losing there; the job opportunities are limited due to piracy activities and so on. In the three-day operation we have seized about N32,700,000 worth of goods. We have 6 people in our custody, three were caught in Warri, and the other three in Ughelli. They collect whooping amounts of money illegally. They are being charged to court.
“This will not be condoned in the leadership of President Buhari. Sometimes, immediately we finish the raids, the culprits still go back to the illegal business.
“I want to warn those engaged in this illegal business that the commission will not tolerate this piracy in broadcasting,” the enforcement director stressed.
He further called on the power sector to join in the fight by disposing wires on electric poles that do not serve electricity purposes.