FilmOne Confirms Arrest Over Pirated Copy of Owambe Thieves

The fight against piracy in Nigeria took a serious turn this week after FilmOne Entertainment confirmed the arrest of a man accused of leaking clips of Owambe Thieves online and even selling a high-resolution pirated version of the movie. The suspect, identified as Roqeeb Ayobami Musibau, allegedly uploaded several parts of the film on TikTok under the name “Naijaprey TV” and went a step further by giving people access to a clean copy of the full movie for money.

According to FilmOne, the arrest followed an official petition, and the suspect is now expected to face prosecution for copyright infringement. For many people in the film industry, this news feels like a small but important victory in the long and difficult battle against piracy.

Piracy has been one of the biggest problems facing Nollywood for years. Producers spend months working on a film, putting in money, time, energy, and trust. Actors commit themselves to long shooting schedules. Cinematographers, makeup artists, editors, set designers, and dozens of other crew members work day and night to deliver the result the audience finally sees on screen. But the moment the film hits the cinema or a streaming platform, someone somewhere is already trying to steal it, repost it, or sell it illegally.

This is why the reaction to the arrest has been loud. Many people feel it is long overdue. Others hope it will send a message that piracy is not something to be ignored or taken lightly anymore.

One of the strongest reactions came from filmmaker Niyi Akinmolayan, who said that when he heard how much the suspect had made from pirating Owambe Thieves, he almost fainted. His reaction shows the painful reality that pirates are not just posting clips for fun; some of them make serious money off other people’s hard work. While filmmakers are trying to recover their investment in cinemas, someone else is somewhere collecting money from leaked copies.

Another online user, @chikezirim22885, captured what many people feel: “Piracy is crippling the industry. Imagine pouring millions into a film only for someone to pirate it. This is an interesting development, I love it.” Comments like this reflect the frustration of fans who want to see Nollywood grow but also see how piracy drags the entire industry backward.

FilmOne made it clear in their statement that piracy continues to harm the creative industry in Nigeria. Their message was simple: if people want Nollywood to survive and improve, they must stop consuming pirated content and choose only legitimate platforms. When people buy fake copies or watch films from illegal pages, they are indirectly killing the very industry they say they love.

It is easy to think that watching a leaked clip on TikTok or getting a free link does not do any harm, but the truth is that every illegal view counts. When box office returns drop because people already watched a stolen version, producers lose money. When producers lose money, they cut budgets. When budgets shrink, the quality of films declines. In the long run, everyone suffers, filmmakers, actors, fans, and even the media platforms that depend on film content.

The arrest of Roqeeb Ayobami Musibau may not solve the entire problem, but it is a step in the right direction. It shows that film studios are becoming more serious about protecting their work and that the law can actually respond when piracy is reported. If more cases like this are followed through to the end, it might scare others who make a living from selling stolen films online.

For Nollywood to keep growing, people need to respect the work of filmmakers. Watching a movie in the cinema, renting it legally, or waiting for it to appear on an official platform may cost a little money, but it supports the long list of people behind each project. A strong, successful film industry means more jobs, better films, and a healthier creative economy.

This case has once again reminded everyone that piracy is not just a harmless act. It is theft. And the industry can only survive if people choose to support it the right way.