The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to ongoing anti-piracy enforcement across the country following a violent attack on its officials during an operation in Ogun State.

The incident occurred on 25th September 2025 at Sabo Market, Sagamu, where NCC officers, supported by personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were carrying out an anti-piracy operation. According to the Commission, its team was ambushed shortly after impounding a consignment of pirated books from an unmarked shop within the market.

In a statement, the Commission condemned the assault, describing it as an attempt to obstruct lawful enforcement activity. It pledged that such incidents would not deter it from fulfilling its statutory mandate of protecting intellectual property and promoting compliance with copyright law.
NCC’s Director-General, Dr John Asein, commended the officers involved for maintaining composure in the face of aggression. He also praised their continued commitment to what he described as a “renewed campaign against copyright piracy and other threats to Nigeria’s creative industries.”

Dr Asein said the Commission was working closely with relevant authorities and market executives to identify and prosecute those responsible for the attack. “We will ensure that those behind this brazen attack are brought to book,” he stated. “In addition to other offences, it is an offence under the Copyright Act to obstruct, hinder, assault, or impede a Copyright Officer in the lawful performance of his duties.”

Reiterating the Commission’s determination to sustain its enforcement drive, Asein stressed that copyright protection was essential to the growth of the creative economy. “We will not relent in fulfilling our statutory mandate, particularly at this time when the Federal Government is prioritising the creative and copyright-based industries for employment generation, wealth creation, and national development,” he said.
He further appealed to all stakeholders, including market associations, publishers, and distributors, to cooperate with the Commission in its efforts to curb the circulation of pirated works.

The NCC has in recent months intensified its operations across several states, targeting the illegal production and distribution of books, music, films, and digital content — an effort the agency says is key to safeguarding Nigeria’s creative economy.