Wildlife Trafficking: Seme Customs Intercepts Lion Cub, Monkeys Along Badagry-Seme Corridors

In its war against wildlife trafficking and protection, operatives of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys being smuggled along the Gbaji, Badagry- Seme highway.

According a statement from the command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs CSC Isah Sulaiman, the interception occured on Sunday, 16 November 2025, at about 0219hrs, during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji.

The statement said operatives of the command had intercepted a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA and upon inspection discovered the endangered species being transported in the vehicle in clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.

The seizure demonstrate the command’s unwavering commitment to protecting the “nation’s biodiversity and to uphold Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), he said.

The statement also revealed that two suspects, Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian; who claimed ownership of the animals had confessed that they had purchased them in Kano with the intention of conveying them to the Benin Republic have been detained for further investigation.

The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga according to the statement said the seizure reaffirmed the Command’s unwavering commitment to enforcing all laws relating to wildlife protection, environmental conservation and border security.

He also reiterated the Command’s resolve to continue working with relevant agencies to ensure that the illegal trade in endangered species is decisively curtailed.

Parts of the statement reads, “In line with Nigeria’s status as a signatory to CITES and consistent with global standards for wildlife protection, the endangered species were immediately confiscated and brought to the Command for documentation, while the Two (2) male suspects were detained for further investigation to ascertain the level of their involvement in wildlife trafficking.

“For proper care, safety and expert handling, the endangered species were formally handed over on Sunday, 16 November 2025, to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative. The handover was carried out by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed (DC Administration) on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga".

Comments

Eze Uchendu Applauds Compt. Olomu's Outstanding Performance In Apapa

...Berates APMT For Lack of Capacity & Technicality ...Calls FG to Set Up Committee To Access APMT Operations In Nigeria The remarkable performance of the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Customs command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi has been commended by a renowned freight forwarder, the Chairman of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarder( NAGAFF), Apapa Chapter, Fowdr. Prince Eze Uchendu. Accessing the Apapa Command under the control of Compt. Olomu, the chairman applauded the resilience and doggedness of the area controller in all areas of operation, in his words, "I think for now we have a good controller, the person of controller, Babatunde Olomu, since his inception as the CAC Apapa, I can say Apapa Command has never had it so good, so I can score the Nigeria customs high In all fields of endeavour, the controller has been a moving controller, he's not a controller that stays in office. He comes to the terminals ...

KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN (KSJI) TAKES A SWIPE AT BAD LEADERSHIPS IN NIGERIA

Maj. Gen. (Prof) Remy Uche, KSJI Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria. As Christians all over the world marked the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist on August 29 commemoration of his beheading by King Herod for speaking up to the truth, the Knights of St. John International (KSJI) of the Roman Catholic Church has taken a swipe against which it described as obnoxious and draconian leaderships in many spheres of life in Nigeria. The Knights of St. John International (KSJI), a sodality organisation of men and women looked up to in the Roman Catholic Church as people of integrity, is not happy with the current situation in the country where leaders in some places are not serving expectedly. According to a press statement made by the KSJI leader in Nigeria (Supreme Subordinate President), Maj Gen. Remy Uche (Prof), and signed on his behalf, by his Chief of Staff, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, to mark the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint...

Breaking News: CBN Ordered To Immediately Suspend Enforcement Of Cuber-Security Levy

Hon. Tajudeen Abbass Speaker of the House of Representatives The House of Representatives has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately suspend the enforcement of the controversial cybersecurity levy. The House took this decision following a motion raised by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda on behalf of all members. The House had expressed concern that the circular issued by the CBN could be misunderstood by Nigerians, it however, noted that the directive does not align with the principles outlined in section 44(2a) of the cybercrime Act regarding the recipients responsible for paying the levy. The House urged the CBN to promptly retract its previous circular regarding the levy’s enforcement and instead publish a new circular aligned with the Act’s provisions. The cybersecurity levy was introduced by CBN through a circular to all banks on May 6, 2024, in accordance with the stipulations of the cybercrime Act.

Maritimegistplus

Search This Blog