Atempt to smuggle a shocking cache of endangered animal parts into Nigeria has been thwarted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mfum/Ekok border in Cross River State.
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has applauded the swift action of Customs officers, who intercepted a suspect transporting a gruesome haul from Cameroon, including 213 parrot skulls, 29 packs of parrot feathers, six eagle skulls, one pack of eagle feathers, 128 African hornbill skulls, two gorilla skulls, and four gorilla hands and feet.
Commending the operation, WCS Country Director, Andrew Dunn, emphasised the critical role of Customs in curbing the illegal wildlife trade.
“Every confiscated item represents a tragic loss for nature, but through continued vigilance and collaboration, we can fight back against wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species,” he said.
The arrested suspect, a Nigerian from Oyo State, was caught on March 12 and remains in custody pending further investigations. Customs officials reaffirmed their commitment to cracking down on illegal wildlife trade through rigorous border surveillance and enforcement.
According to Dunn, WCS has been actively supporting Nigeria’s anti-trafficking efforts, training over 100 Customs personnel since 2020 and partnering with the Elephant Protection Initiative to establish ten secure storage facilities for seized wildlife products. Since 2001, WCS has worked tirelessly to protect Nigeria’s biodiversity, with a strong presence in Bauchi and Cross River States.
Authorities urge the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities linked to wildlife trafficking, reinforcing the collective fight to safeguard Nigeria’s rich natural heritage.
By Stina Ezin, Calabar