Suspected thugs on Thursday attacked and prevented a Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) task force from carrying out their operation at a book market in Sagamu, Ogun.

The enforcement team had raided two bookshops inside the bustling Sabo market in Sagamu, confiscated books, and sealed the shops.

However, suspected thugs were mobilised to resist the team and stop them from removing the confiscated books.

After receiving serious threats from the thugs, the NCC team had to release the confiscated books before they were allowed to leave the scene.

Speaking to journalists after the incident, Oluropo Oke, the state coordinator of NCC, Ibadan Office, expressed sadness over the incident.

Ms Oke emphasised that winning the war against piracy requires sustained efforts, warning that those obstructing arrests would face consequences and prosecution.

“In the course of evacuating pirated books and sealed shops, the shop owner’s husband organised a group of boys to come and attack us.

“We can win the war against piracy with a continued fight against it, and one day we will succeed.

“The position of the law is that they will be arrested and prosecuted accordingly. The commission is under the federal ministry of justice, and all those who perpetrated the blockage of arrest will face the consequence,” she said.

The state coordinator stated that other operations conducted in Sagamu were successful, explaining that a bookshop with pirated books at Akarigbo Junction was sealed.

“We will carry out our sorting of the books to determine how many copies were pirated and how many are original.

“Whatever the case, whether it has one or two pirated books, the bookshop owner will surely face the wrath of the law,” she said.

Ms Oke warned that pirated books would harm the economy, promote substandard goods, stifle creativity, and deter authors from writing.

Men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) who accompanied the NCC officials for the operation were civil in handling the situation. 

(NAN)