The Nigerian Copyright Commission has confiscated several cartons of pirated books valued at about ₦7 million at Garki Market in the Federal Capital Territory.

The raid was part of the agency’s ongoing campaign against book piracy.

Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ijeoma Egbunike disclosed the development in a statement. Director of Operations, Mr. Femi Ajala, who led the enforcement team, said the operation was carried out with the support of armed police officers from the FCT Command.

Acting on intelligence about the storage and distribution of unauthorised books, the team gained access to a store at the market. They seized and removed several cartons and bags of suspected pirated publications before sealing the premises.

Ajala said the volume of books recovered highlights the scale of the problem and the need for continuous enforcement. He noted that piracy deprives authors and publishers of income and discourages investment in the creative and publishing industries.

The commission said further investigation would be conducted to identify the owners, sources and distribution network behind the seized materials. Officials warned that those involved in illegal reproduction and sale of copyrighted works would face the full weight of the law and urged the public to provide useful information to help disrupt such networks.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper