The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Command, has recorded a significant breakthrough in wildlife protection and border security with the interception of four live pangolins along the Yemoamota–Igboora axis of Ogun State.
The seizure, which took place at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, followed actionable intelligence received by the Command’s patrol team. Officers on routine surveillance intercepted a motorcycle around the Yemoamota–Abule Igboora–Ebute Igboora corridor. A thorough search revealed four live pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and concealed inside a sack.
Customs authorities noted that the sophisticated concealment method points to the operations of an organised wildlife trafficking syndicate operating across border communities.
In a bid to evade arrest, the suspects reportedly abandoned the motorcycle and fled into the surrounding bush terrain, taking advantage of the early morning conditions. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those behind the illegal operation.
Reaffirming its commitment to global conservation standards, the Command emphasized that the interception aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which seeks to protect endangered wildlife from exploitation and illegal trade.
Following the seizure, the animals were promptly transferred on February 13, 2026, to a designated Wildlife Conservation Centre to ensure their proper care and rehabilitation. The handover was conducted by Assistant Comptroller Tajjudeen Bello, Acting Deputy Controller (Administration), on behalf of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni.
Commending the professionalism of the patrol team, Afeni stated that officers displayed exceptional courage during the covert operation. He reiterated the Command’s resolve to clamp down on trans-border crimes, particularly the illicit trafficking of endangered species.
Afeni also issued a stern warning to smugglers and wildlife traffickers, urging them to desist from illegal activities. He stressed that the Ogun I Command remains battle-ready and fully equipped to track, intercept, and prosecute individuals undermining environmental protection laws and national security.
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