The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kano/Jigawa Area Command, has intercepted a consignment of illegally traded wildlife and arrested three male suspects along the Kano-Daura Road.
The interception, carried out on August 25, 2026, followed an intelligence-led operation conducted in accordance with Section 55(1)(i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Speaking during the formal handover of the intercepted wildlife, the Acting Deputy Comptroller, Enforcement, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Muhammad Zanna, who represented the Acting Customs Area Controller, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, said the operation was based on credible intelligence.
He said the patrol team intercepted the consignment at about 8:30 p.m. on August 25 and apprehended three suspects along the Daura-Kano Road.
According to him, the suspects made several attempts to bribe the patrol officers, but the officers remained professional and resisted the offers.
He said the operation had disrupted a wildlife trafficking supply chain and would contribute significantly to efforts to curb the illegal trade in endangered species.
The intercepted animals were identified as four caracals, four chimpanzees, two baby gorillas, seven red patas monkeys, two galagos (bush babies), one honey badger, two albino alligators, six rock fowls, one civet cat and 19 greater bustards.
The wildlife and the three suspects were subsequently handed over to a representative of the Special Wildlife Office of the NCS Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.
Zanna commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team for their continued support in protecting Nigeria’s borders and combating the illicit trafficking of endangered wildlife.
He also praised the officers involved in the operation for their courage, vigilance and integrity.
The Kano/Jigawa Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating wildlife trafficking and protecting endangered species, warning individuals and criminal networks involved in the illegal trade that the Service would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to disrupt activities threatening Nigeria’s biodiversity.