Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has commended the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) for combating illegal wildlife trade through the arrests of suspected traffickers.
Mr Mathew Joseph, Communications Manager, WCS, said this in a statement on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Lagos.
Joseph quoted Mr Elisha Bello, Counter Wildlife Trafficking Adviser with the WCS in Calabar, as saying that the NCS has conducted a series of intelligence-led operations supported by the WCS in hunting for wildlife traffickers.
“As a result, two important arrests were made last month in the Nigeria-Cameroon trans boundary region.
“One suspect was apprehended in Jimeta, Yola, with four sacks of ivory weighing 89 kg.
“Two suspects were arrested later the same month in Sangere, Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State with five sacks of pangolin scales and claws weighing 216 kg.
“These are the first known arrests of wildlife traffickers in the trans boundary region. All the three suspects are currently facing prosecution by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“I am overjoyed by this news and would like to congratulate the NCS on the arrests made. We look forward to hearing more about the outcome of the prosecution as well as to further collaboration with the NCS,” Bello said.
He said the WCS secured a grant from the UK Biodiversity Challenge Fund to provide training for the NCS and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency to raise awareness on the illegal trans-boundary wildlife trade between Cameroon and Nigeria.
By Fabian Ekeruche
