The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Ikoyi Annex Alagbon, AIG Margere, has announced two significant breakthroughs in the sustained nationwide efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks, protect Nigeria’s creative economy and stem the flow of illegal arms into the country.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, AIG Margere revealed that operatives of the FCID Ikoyi Annex successfully dismantled a sophisticated movie piracy syndicate exploiting TikTok, WhatsApp and Telegram to illegally distribute Nollywood films for profit. The breakthrough followed a formal petition submitted by FilmOne Entertainment Limited after discovering that their film OWS had been unlawfully uploaded on TikTok on August 23, 2025, where the suspect demanded ₦1,000 from viewers for full access to the pirated movie.
Supported by screenshots, transaction records and ownership documentation, operatives launched an intelligence-coordinated operation that led to the arrest of the prime suspect. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to sourcing the full movie from an illegal download website, editing scenes into short clips for TikTok engagement and distributing the complete film through WhatsApp for ₦1,000 per buyer. He further admitted to having sold the pirated movie to more than 50 individuals.
The suspect also revealed his involvement in the piracy of several Nollywood titles, including Farmer’s Bride, Thin Line, Alakada Bad and Bougie. A forensic examination of his devices — an iPhone 15 Pro and an iPhone SE — uncovered extensive evidence of illegal distribution, including movie files, customer lists, WhatsApp and Telegram chats.
Financial forensic analysis of the suspect’s OPay account uncovered inflows and outflows totalling ₦7.6 million between August 20 and October 29, 2025, confirming steady revenue from cyber-enabled intellectual property fraud. The suspect has since been arraigned in court.
AIG Margere noted that the operation marks a decisive step in protecting Nigeria’s film industry, stressing that Nollywood continues to lose billions annually to piracy and cyber-enabled exploitation. She vowed that the FCID Ikoyi Annex will intensify its pursuit of individuals and networks sabotaging the nation’s creative industry.
In a separate operation, the FCID Ikoyi Annex intercepted a suspicious container following credible intelligence received by the department. The driver, identified as Nelson Perete, was arrested and brought in for questioning. A thorough joint inspection of the container, conducted in the presence of the clearing agent and the suspected receiver, led to the discovery of 300 rounds of 9mm live ammunition concealed inside a Nissan Frontier pickup. Additional recovered items included two Toyota Sienna vans, a CAN-XA vehicle, 24 bags of foreign rice, bales of used clothing, cartons of vegetable oil and assorted household goods.
Five suspects were arrested in connection with the shipment. Investigations linked the container to a U.S.-based Nigerian woman, Maria Adime, who failed to declare the ammunition and other contraband in the shipping documents. Further inquiries revealed an attempt by a man claiming to be a retired U.S. Marine, Colonel Sunonni Uanduri, to claim ownership of the ammunition through an intermediary, despite being unable to provide verifiable personal or service details.
AIG Margere described the concealment as a deliberate attempt to bypass port security systems, adding that none of the recovered ammunition or contraband items were listed in the bill of lading. She said the level of concealment suggests linkages to a broader arms trafficking network, prompting deeper investigation into the origin, intended destination and possible criminal connections of the shipment.
The FCID Ikoyi Annex is currently collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of State Services to ensure intelligence sharing and coordinated prosecution in line with the Firearms Act and other relevant laws. According to AIG Margere, the police will continue to uncover and dismantle criminal networks attempting to flood the country with illegal arms and contraband goods under the guise of legitimate imports.
She reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the FCID Ikoyi Annex to combating cybercrime, protecting Nigeria’s creative and economic assets, blocking illegal revenue channels, and ensuring public safety. She urged citizens to continue providing credible information to law enforcement agencies, noting that such cooperation is vital in sustaining the fight against sophisticated criminal networks.
AIG Margere emphasized that under her leadership, and in alignment with the vision of the Inspector General of Police, the FCID Ikoyi Annex Alagbon remains resolute in its mandate to safeguard the nation, disrupt criminal operations and bring all offenders to justice without hesitation.
