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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Environment & Climate

Nigeria Customs intercepts 48 endangered animals in Kano and Jigawa

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Nigeria Customs said it intercepted 48 endangered animals in Kano and Jigawa on August 25, including primates, wild cats, birds, crocodiles and a honey badger.
  • Three suspects were arrested and handed over to the Nigeria Customs Service’s Special Wildlife Office for further action.
  • The acting area controller described the seizure as possibly the largest and most diverse single wildlife seizure in the service’s history.

Forty-eight endangered animals were intercepted in a single day by the Kano/Jigawa Customs Area Command, in what officials described as an unusually large and diverse wildlife seizure.

The animals seized on August 25 included 15 primates, among them chimpanzees, gorillas and bush babies. Customs also intercepted wild cats including civets and caracals, 25 wild birds such as greater bustards and rock fowls, two albino crocodiles and a honey badger.

It is important to note that this is believed to be the largest and most diverse single seizure of wildlife ever recorded in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service and probably the West African sub-region.

· Usman AdamuThe acting Kano/Jigawa Customs area controller described the scale of the seizure during a briefing in Kano.

Three suspects arrested in connection with the shipment were handed over to the Special Wildlife Office at Nigeria Customs Service headquarters. Acting Customs Area Controller Usman Adamu said the seizure was believed to be the largest and most diverse single wildlife interception recorded in the service’s history, and possibly in the West African sub-region.

This interception underscores the scale and gravity of the trafficking attempt. It also shows the Command’s intensified resolve to protect our biodiversity and uphold obligations under international conventions and Section 55(1)(i) of the NCS Act 2023.

· Usman AdamuAdamu explained the significance of the seizure and the legal basis for the enforcement action.

“It is important to note that this is believed to be the largest and most diverse single seizure of wildlife ever recorded in the history of the Nigeria Customs Service and probably the West African sub-region,” Adamu said. He added that the interception showed the scale and seriousness of the trafficking attempt and reflected the command’s effort to protect biodiversity and enforce customs laws.

The command also reported seizures and detentions with a total duty-paid value exceeding 2 billion naira from July 2026 onward. Its year-to-date revenue stood at 88.92 billion naira, while July produced more than 14 billion naira, the command’s highest monthly collection on record.

Our officers will continue to remain vigilant in identifying and preventing activities that fall outside these laws.

· Usman AdamuThe acting controller said Customs would continue enforcing relevant laws.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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