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The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has confiscated suspected pirated books valued at approximately N7 million during an enforcement operation at Garki Market in Abuja.
The raid, conducted on September 4, 2026, formed part of the Commission’s renewed efforts to clamp down on copyright piracy and protect the interests of authors, publishers and other right owners.
In a statement signed by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Ijeoma Egbunike on Saturday, the Commission said the operation was intelligence-led and carried out by its enforcement team under the leadership of the Director of Operations, Mr. Femi Ajala.
The team was supported by armed police personnel from the FCT Command.
According to the statement, the operation followed credible intelligence that a store in the market was being used for the storage and distribution of suspected pirated books.
Upon gaining access to the premises, the enforcement officers discovered a large quantity of publications suspected to have been reproduced and distributed without the authorisation of the copyright owners.
Several cartons and bags containing the suspected pirated books were subsequently seized and evacuated, while the premises were sealed.
Ajala said the operation demonstrated the Commission’s determination to use intelligence and enforcement measures to tackle piracy across the country.
He noted that copyright piracy continued to pose a significant threat to Nigeria’s publishing and creative industries by depriving authors and publishers of legitimate earnings.
“The operation was intelligence-driven. We received information about the location and acted on that intelligence. The volume of books recovered shows the seriousness of the situation and the need for sustained enforcement,” he said.
Ajala assured that the Commission would sustain its operations against individuals and networks involved in the illegal reproduction and commercial distribution of copyrighted works.
“The Commission will continue to disrupt piracy activities and investigate all those involved,” he stated.
He said investigations had commenced to determine the source, ownership and distribution channels of the seized publications and identify those responsible for the alleged infringement.
The Director of Operations also warned persons engaged in the unauthorised reproduction and sale of copyrighted materials to desist, stressing that the NCC would continue to deploy intelligence, surveillance and enforcement operations against piracy.
He added that the Commission would extend its anti-piracy campaign to other areas where pirated books could be circulated, including educational environments.
Some of the books recovered during the operation include Purple Hibiscus, The Magic of Thinking Big, New General Mathematics, New School Physics, MacMillan Champion Primary Mathematics, Classic Basic Technology, Active Basic Science and Technology, and Essential Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools, among others.
The NCC said tackling book piracy was essential to protecting Nigeria’s authors, publishers, researchers, educators and the broader creative economy.
The Commission also appealed to members of the public, publishers, right owners and other stakeholders to provide information that could help identify and dismantle piracy networks.