By: Adeosun Ewatomi
Under AIG Margaret Ochalla’s leadership, the FCID Alagbon has arrested a group involved in massive movie piracy, copyright infringement, and cyber-enabled crimes targeting Nigeria’s creative sector. Ochalla made this announcement on Wednesday, November 26, in Lagos, through FCID spokesperson ASP Aminat Mayegun at a press briefing at the FCID Alagbon Annex.Through coordinated intelligence, the prime suspect was arrested. He confessed to obtaining the movie from an illegal website, uploading edited scenes on TikTok for engagement, and distributing the full pirated film via WhatsApp for ₦1,000. He admitted selling the pirated movie to over 50 individuals and confirmed involvement in the piracy of several Nollywood titles such as “Farmers Bride,” “Thinline,” and “Alakada Bad and Bourjee.”
A forensic examination of two seized devices an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone SE -yielded substantial evidence including lists of recipients and copies of pirated films shared via WhatsApp and Telegram. Financial forensics further revealed inflows of ₦7,616,403.80 and outflows of ₦7,612,270.99 in his OPay account between 20 August and 29 October 2025, confirming steady revenue from cyber-enabled piracy and fraud, she stated.
The AIG announced that the suspect had been arraigned in court.
Ochalla also reported the arrest of five individuals linked to ammunition and contraband smuggling into Nigeria. She noted that the ammunition and contraband were seized following credible intelligence. One Nelson Peretei, driver, was arrested and taken to FCID Annex for questioning.A thorough search of the intercepted container, conducted with the clearing agent and suspected receivers present, resulted in the recovery of:
300 rounds of 9mm live ammunition concealed in a Nissan Frontier pickup,
Two Toyota Sienna vans,
One Nissan Frontier pickup,
One SCION XA vehicle,
24 bags of foreign rice,
7 bales of used clothing (Okirika),
Cartons of vegetable oil,
Various household items.Five suspects were arrested in connection with the consignment. Investigations linked the shipment to Mrs. Maria Adeyemi, based in the United States, who failed to declare the ammunition and contraband in the bill of lading. Further inquiry exposed an attempt by a self-acclaimed retired U.S. Marine Colonel, Sunny Nwadiri, to claim ownership of the ammunition through an intermediary, without providing verifiable personal details.
Preliminary findings indicate strategic concealment of the illegal items among legitimate goods, with none of the ammunition or contraband listed in the shipping documents a clear attempt to evade port security system.
AIG Ochalla added that the department was conducting further investigations into the source, intended destination, and possible connections to larger criminal or arms-trafficking networks. The Department is working closely with the Nigeria Customs Service and Department of State Services (DSS) to ensure thorough intelligence-sharing and prosecution in accordance with the Firearms Act, Cap F28, LFN, and other relevant laws.
This operation highlights the FCID’s commitment to protecting intellectual property rights and shielding Nigeria’s film industry from economic sabotage perpetrated through digital platforms.
AIG FCID encourages members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to support ongoing security efforts. The department remained steadfast in its mandate to pursue criminals, dismantle illicit networks, and ensure that all offenders are brought to justice without hesitation.
