Hawkers of pirated movies displaying their wares

Top Yoruba actors,producers and marketers under the aegis of the Yoruba Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, YFVPMAN, recently invaded the den of the kingpin of video piracy in Lagos, carting away millions of pirated copies of released and yet to be released Yoruba Movies.

The kingpin’s den is located somewhere around Papa Ajao, in Mushin area of Lagos.

Although the kingpin is said to be on the run now, his associates are cooling their feet in the police cell.

The operation base of the kingpin, according to the association publicist, Magi Michael, busted recently after six years of carrying out the illegal business.

The kingpin,(name withheld) who owns one of the biggest printing outfits in the area, holed himself up on a plot of land that has the caveat, 419 beware this house is not for sale. He is said to have been the manufacturer and distributor of all pirated indigenous movies in Nigeria. His offices are spread across the country and his affiliates are in every major city in Nigeria.

In a statement by the association’s publicist, the body’s investigations revealed that movies once released in Idumota and Alaba get straight into his den by his road soldiers and this movies are immediately taken to his dubbing department where machines that can print fifteen thousand CD’s in one hour are waiting. Everything about the newly released movie becomes history

According to the publicist, the actors and producers assembled at area as early as 5 am, on that fateful Tuesday, March 16, to track down the culprit. But unfortunately, the met the office and key and lock.

Undeterred, the aggrieved actors and producers broke into the office as they were said to have wept at the sight of what they saw in the office; printing machines, duplicating machines. “Movies yet to be released were seen at the printing stage while recently released movies such as Ijan’ba sole, Oba Mugu, Olori Ole, Babajide Raji Fasasi (BRF) etc has already been duplicated.” the actors recounted.

Some of Artic affiliate offices were also visited by members of the association, where yet to be released movies were equally discovered, seized and destroyed by them.

The Area Commander, Area ‘D’ Mushin, Lagos, Uwem Akpan was said to have refused to comment on the matter but refer the association’s publicist to the Police public relation officer at the national Headquarters in Abuja. “Please go to the PPRO’s office in Abuja, i am not the right person to talk about it.”

The crippling effect of kingpin’s piracy strength is said to have affected everyone in this business. According to Alhaji Taiwo Abdulahi Abdulrasheed, Managing Director of Mercury Pictures, “The sales of video movies has for about five years been low and was almost grounded until God came to our rescue and we discovered this man and we know that through him other arrest would be made.

Though the kingpin is said to be on the run, the association’s publicist said some of his associates are already cooling their feet in the police cell as their business premises have also been sealed.