In a heightened wildlife rescue operation, the operatives of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys being smuggled along the Gbaji section of the Badagry Seme expressway.
The animals, all endangered species, were discovered during a midnight stop-and-search operation on Sunday, November 16.
The quiet stretch of the Gbaji axis on the Badagry–Seme expressway turned into a scene of high-stakes enforcement in the wee hours of Sunday when officers of the Area Command, flagged down a suspicious blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA.
What they found inside revealed yet another troubling chapter in the illegal wildlife trade.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaimon, the operatives made the discovery at approximately 0219hrs during routine patrol duties. Upon inspection of the vehicle, officers uncovered a lion cub and two patas monkeys, all being transported in clear violation of Nigeria’s wildlife protection laws and global conservation standards.
The interception, Sulaimon said, underscores the Command’s determination to defend Nigeria’s wildlife heritage and uphold its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)—a treaty designed to ensure that endangered species are not exploited through international trade.
Two suspects were arrested at the scene: Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian. Both men reportedly claimed ownership of the animals and confessed to having purchased them in Kano with plans to transport them to the Benin Republic. They remain in custody as investigations deepen into their involvement in possible wildlife trafficking networks.
“As a CITES signatory, Nigeria takes the protection of endangered wildlife very seriously,” the spokesperson emphasized. “The animals were immediately confiscated and taken to the Command for proper documentation, while the suspects were detained for further investigation.”
To ensure the animals receive expert care and safe handling, the Command formally handed them over later that same day to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative.
The handover was led by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed (DC Administration), representing the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
Compt. Adenuga, in the statement, reaffirmed the Command’s firm stance against wildlife trafficking, emphasizing its commitment to environmental conservation and robust border security.
He noted that the Command will continue to work closely with relevant agencies and conservation bodies to combat the illegal trade in endangered species.
As global concern grows over wildlife trafficking across West Africa’s transit routes, the Seme Area Command’s latest seizure sends a clear message: Nigeria’s borders are being watched, and the guardians of its biodiversity remain alert
