The war against piracy is steadily gathering more steam with more entertainers calling out for government’s assistance in dealing with the menace.

Members of the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, (ANTP), renewed this call on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, when they trooped to the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, bearing placards against the scourge of piracy.

However, protesters were not allowed access to the premises, as they were blocked by security men who didn’t want a scene; as activities were taking place to mark the 60th birthday of a former governor of Lagos State and ACN leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Police allegedly used tear gas and fired shots in the air to disperse the protesters.

The protesters, which included the likes Jide Kosoko, Funke Akindele, Antar Laniyan, among other popular Yoruba actors, were calling for the complete shutting down of the popular Alaba International Market, Ojo, Lagos, which according to them, is the breeding ground of piracy in the entertainment industry. The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) has also called for government to shut down Alaba market.

The protest kicked off from the premises of Lagos Arts and Culture Centre at Radio bus stop, Ikeja before heading to the State House.

The war against piracy has been on-going and was highlighted with the arrest and re-arrest of suspected kingpin of ‘Alaba pirates’ Anthony Onwujekwue in 2009 and 2012.