The Nigerian government has destroyed pirated items valued at 2.4 billion naira (over 12 million U.S. dollars) in southeastern Enugu State in its intensified fight against piracy.

The items were seized during the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC)'s enforcement raids in the zone, Afam Ezekude, Director-General of the Commission, said, during the destruction of the items on Wednesday.

The items included software, books, CDs and DVDs.

"Piracy is a crime and not a business, and that is why we are destroying these pirated products confiscated in the course of our enforcement campaign in the South-East," he added.

"This represents the value of money that would have been lost to the nefarious activities of pirates to the detriment of our hard-working copyright owners", Ezekude told reporters.

The director said the destruction would serve as a warning to those planning to venture into piracy that it was no longer a lucrative venture.

He added that the commission, in the last five years, had carried out 227 anti-piracy raids and arrested 537 suspected pirates.

The director told reporters that it also secured 54 convictions, with some of the convicts bagging prison sentences or huge fines.

The commission has the mandate to advance the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria through the dissemination of copyright knowledge, efficient administration and protection of rights. Endit

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