The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against wildlife trafficking with the interception of a lion cub and two Patas monkeys along the Badagry–Seme Expressway.
The operation occurred at about 02:19 a.m. on Sunday, 16 November 2025, when Customs operatives on routine stop-and-search duty at Gbaji flagged down a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA. A detailed inspection led to the startling discovery of the endangered animals being transported in clear violation of Nigeria’s wildlife protection laws and international CITES conventions.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the public relations officer seme command Chief Superintendent Of Customs Isah Suleiman, Two men Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian claimed ownership of the animals and admitted to purchasing them in Kano for onward transportation to the Benin Republic. They were immediately taken into custody for further investigation.
The Command confiscated the rescued species and documented them at its headquarters before handing them over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative for expert care and rehabilitation. The formal handover was conducted by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
Comptroller Adenuga reaffirmed the Command’s firm commitment to enforcing national and international wildlife protection regulations. He stressed that the illegal trade in endangered species will continue to face decisive pushback through strengthened inter-agency collaboration and proactive border security operations.
He noted that the interception underscores the Command’s unwavering resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s biodiversity while fulfilling global obligations to protect vulnerable wildlife populations.
The Seme Area Command reiterated that it will not relent in its efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent the exploitation of the nation’s natural heritage.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command.
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