Publishers, Police raid book pirates in Onitsha

By Vincent  Ujumadu

AWKA—BOOK pirates operating in the commercial city of Onitsha, yesterday, had a rough deal as the police arrested one of them (names withheld), while five others escaped.

The Onitsha branch of the Nigeria Publishers Association had over the years been complaining of the negative effects of the book pirates, adding that apart from putting members of the association out of business, they have been churning out poor quality books, which often confuse users.

Worried by the development, the association, with the assistance of the police, raided the offices of the syndicate and dislodged them, yesterday.

Secretary of the association, Mr. Felix Ogbalu, son of renowned author, late Chief Fredrick Ogbalu, who spoke at the Onitsha Area Police Command, said they got information on the latest activities of the pirates and alerted the Area Commander, who ordered his men to raid and arrest the alleged pirates.

Two bus-load of pirated books of publishers such as, Kawuriz and Manilas, Heinemann Publishers, Macmillian, Longman and Africana First Publishers Limited, were confiscated.