Pirated Bibles now flood Nigerian markets, says BSN

The Bible Society of Nigeria, BSN, yesterday raised the alarm over what it described as the influx of pirated copies of the Holy Bible into the Nigerian markets.
The body, which has the patent for re-producing the Bible and translating the holy book into different Nigerian languages, noted that pirated copies of different versions of the Holy Bible are now on sale across the country.
Outgoing General Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Society and Chairman of the United Bible Societies in Africa, Rev. (Dr.) Fredrick Odutola, raised the alarm during a press conference on the ‘state of the nation’, at the Bible Guest House, in Lagos.
He disclosed that large quantities of its quality guaranteed Bible, translated with huge sums of money into the various Nigerian languages are now being heavily pirated in different markets in the country “and without the fear of God to the dire consequences.
“Recently, someone brought a defective Efik Bible to us to replace since we have quality guarantee and it was a pirated copy, bearing our logo all the same, in Ariaria Market, Aba.”
Displaying different versions of the pirated copies of the Holy book recovered from the Nigerian markets, the BSN Chief Executive revealed further in bewilderment: “Even the policemen said they were afraid to enter this market (Ariaria). So it has become an institution on its own.
This cannot continue,” he asserted. He, therefore, warned Nigerians, particularly Christians, to resist the temptation of patronising pirated copies of the Holy Bible in whatever guise.
“We want Nigerians to know that it is equally illegal to buy pirated books so that when anyone is in doubt, let us be contacted”, he said, pointing out that some pirated Bibles so far recovered in the market are blurred in printing, while the words of God are not printed in red as the original copies from BSN.
He equally seized the opportunity to announce the appointment of Rev. Dare Ajiboye as his successor in office, effective from August 1, 2013.
Speaking on the state of the nation, Rev. Odutola lamented that the BSN has so far lost three of its members to the security challenges in the north and the mayhem in Maiduguri, Borno State. He noted that it was alarming to see how illegal arms made their way into the country and how porous the borders and control system are. “We cannot fold our hands and see our unity shattered.
I will, therefore, call on our border patrol men to see their loyalty to this nation first and foremost as what affects one will affect the other, directly or indirectly. So, we must all be concerned about the security of our nation that has been threatened and the mayhem in Maiduguri.
On corruption, the outgoing CEO remarked that in the midst of the madness of leaders corruptly enriching themselves, and ignoring those they are leading, “we still have leaders making positive impact like Governors Babatunde Raji Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, among others. “Let others take a cue from these pacesetters whose works are glaring for the people to see the difference, he urged.