By Andrew Utulu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme border command, has averred that in its determination to protect 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), Operatives of its Command have intercepted one Lion Cub and two Patas Monkeys.
The command disclosed that two suspects who claimed to have purchased them from Kano have been arrested.
Isah Sulaiman, Customs Public Relations Officer of the command, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists said the animals were intercepted on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at about 2.19 a.m.
He said they were in a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA and intercepted during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji, along the Badagry–Seme expressway.
“Upon inspection, the operatives discovered that the animals were being transported in the vehicle in clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws. Two individuals, Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian, claimed ownership of the animals and confessed that they had purchased them in Kano with the intention of conveying them to the Benin Republic,” the Seme command Customs image maker said.
Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga
He added that 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 male suspects were detained for further investigation to ascertain the level of their involvement in wildlife trafficking.
For proper care, safety and expert handling, he disclosed that the endangered species were formally handed over on Sunday, November 16, 2025, to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, pointing out that the handover was carried out by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed in-charge of Administration, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
