NCC raids illegal spots, seizes decoders, dishes in Edo

THE Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday raided several spots in Benin City and its environs where it uncovered over 300 illegal rebroadcast of cable signals and made seizure of over 50 decoders and satellite dishes.

The disconnection exercise, which was led by the Benin Zonal Officer in charge of South-South, Ajang Joseph, saw Ogida, Siloko Road, Wire Road and environs stormed and connection wires, dishes as well as boosters and other equipment confiscated by the task force.

Ajang, who addressed newsmen shortly after the raid, said following complaints from cable service providers that their signals were being broadcast illegally, “it was important for the commission to embark on the exercise to forestall and warned pirates to desist from the act or face sanction when caught.”

“We had people complaining that people are infringing on the rights of cable owners by connecting and rebroadcasting their signal illegally. My men went into surveillance and it was confirmed and we swooped into action,” Ajang stated.

He continued: “After now, investigations continue to apprehend and prosecute the suspects. Our warning is that this illegal connection and broadcast of signal should stop because we are not going to rest until we bring pirates to their knees.

“We will always protect the rights of these cable providers because they have invested in it. We want people to use them directly. We don’t want illegal rebroadcasting of their signals that is why we came for this exercise,” Ajang added.

He said his men went into surveillance which prompted the operation, adding that the fight against these terrestrial broadcast pirates though on for years, was continuous.
The NCC chief noted that the level of damage done in the last three years was running into millions of naira and that the commission was all out to sanitise the system.

Ajang further disclosed that investigation was ongoing as the agency moves in ensuring that the offenders were brought to book.