The Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Lagos has apprehended a syndicate involved in large-scale movie piracy, copyright violations, and cybercrimes targeting Nigeria’s entertainment sector.
FCID spokesperson, Aminat Mayegun, disclosed the arrests during a media briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
She explained that the operation was launched after FilmOne Entertainment Ltd. filed a petition reporting that its latest movie, Owambe Thieves, was illegally uploaded to TikTok on August 23.
Mayegun added that the main suspect monetised the pirated upload by charging viewers ₦1,000 to watch the full version of the film.
“The company reported that its film ‘Owambe Thieves’ had been unlawfully uploaded on TikTok on Aug. 23,” she said.
“The suspect behind the upload allegedly charged viewers N1,000 for access to a pirated copy of the full movie. The petition was accompanied by screenshots, payment records, and documents proving ownership of the film.
“The suspect admitted to editing scenes for TikTok engagement and distributing the full pirated film via WhatsApp for a fee.
“In his confession, he revealed that he sold copies to more than 50 individuals and was involved in the piracy of other Nollywood films, including ‘Farmer’s Bride’, ‘Thinline’, and ‘Alakada: Bad and Boujee’.”
The FCID spokesperson disclosed that investigators found extensive evidence on the suspect’s two seized iPhones, including multiple pirated movie files and lists of recipients who received the films through WhatsApp and Telegram channels.
“A forensic analysis of two seized devices, an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone SE, uncovered extensive evidence,” she added.