NAN – The Lagos State Film and Videos Censors Board says it has arrested no fewer than 33 dealers of uncensored movies across markets in the state between June and December 2015.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Dele Balogun, made the disclosure in Lagos on Wednesday while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Balogun said the board conducted raids with the National Film and Video Censors Board, police and some stakeholders.
He said that during the raids, uncensored movies and equipment worth N5million were confiscated .
“We conducted raids on the outlets of those people who sell uncensored movies in conjunction with the National Film and Videos Censors Board and 33 traders were arrested in the last six months,’’ he said.
The executive secretary said the board also confiscated the items, adding that the culprits had been prosecuted.
Balogun warned those who produce and sell uncensored films to desist from the illegal act.
“The collaboration between the Lagos Census Board and the National Films and Videos Censors Board is getting stronger and we will stop at nothing to ensure that offenders are brought to book to serve as deterrent to others,’’ he said.
Balogun said that censorship of movies was imperative to ensure that viewers were not exposed to content that could hurt societal interests.
He explained that classification of films was particularly important to protect young people from watching obscene scenes that could negatively impact on them.
“We want to particularly protect our impressionable youths from embracing values that could harm their future.
“ That is why we want to make people who break the law understand that censorship is good for their business and the society,’’ he said.
Balogun urged members of the public not to patronise uncensored films, urging them to always look out for the boards` embossed labels on movies before making their purchases.
