Jide Sokoko

In its continued bid to fight piracy, authorities of the Yoruba Video Films Producers/Marketers Association of Nigeria (YOVIFPMAN), have arrested some movie pirates.

The pirates, who are currently being detained at Lion Building Police Command, were arrested at different parts of Lagos during an anti-piracy battle that commenced last Thursday.

An executive of YOVIFPMAN, Okanlawon Tunji Oluwole of Vision Productions, confirmed the development to NollywoodReel. He said the association will not relent in its efforts to bring the pirates, who had been feasting on the intellectual property of artistes, to book.

“It will be a continued effort and we are not going to give up until these people (pirates) stop feasting on our works,” he stated. The raid was said to have been carried out with the support of the task force set up by the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board.

The chairman of Video Rental Operators Association of Nigeria (VROAN), Kassim Olatunbosun, also told NollywoodReel, it is a fight to the finish with film pirates in every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

“It is a challenge all stakeholders in the entertainment industry and Nigeria at large must take. We are aware of the fact that pirates operate in other parts of the world, but what we are saying is that the rate can be drastically reduced, and there is no going back on that.

“I salute the courage of YOVIFPMAN and Prince Jide Kosoko in this fight against piracy, and we hope the government will take it up as well,” he added.