An anti-piracy operation turned into a violent confrontation on Thursday, September 25, 2025, when officers from the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and their security escorts from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were ambushed at Sabo Market, Sagamu.
The enforcement team was attacked by hoodlums shortly after successfully seizing a quantity of pirated books from an unmarked shop in the market.
The NCC Management immediately issued a strong condemnation of the “violent and unprovoked attack.” While expressing deep concern over the assault, the Commission lauded the officers for demonstrating “restraint in the face of this provocation” and praised their commitment to disrupting activities that threaten Nigeria’s creative economy.
The Commission also vowed to pursue the attackers, stating that legal consequences will be swift.
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In a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, Ijeoma Egbunike, the NCC stated that it is “Working with relevant authorities and the market executives, to ensure that those behind this brazen attack are identified and brought to book.”
The NCC further emphasized that assaulting or obstructing a Copyright Officer in the performance of duty is a specific offense under the Copyright Act, punishable in addition to any other criminal charges.
Despite the hostility, the NCC remains firm in its mandate to stem piracy and guarantee Nigerian creators the full benefits of their intellectual labour.
The agency underscored the Federal Government’s current prioritization of the creative and copyright-based industries for wealth creation and employment, stressing that anti-piracy efforts are integral to the national agenda.
The NCC further called on all stakeholders—including market executives, community leaders, and industry practitioners—to collaborate in the fight against piracy, describing it as a collective responsibility necessary for national development.
