Ogun: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, has announced the interception of four live pangolins, an endangered species, along the Yemoamota-Abule-Igboora axis of the state. The discovery highlights the ongoing efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade in the region.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Deputy Superintendent of NCS, Chado Zakari, who also serves as the Command’s Spokesperson, reported that the seizure was a testament to the service’s dedication to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Zakari detailed that a patrol team, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a motorcycle at approximately 3.00 a.m. on Thursday in the specified area.
Officers found the pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and hidden inside a sack upon inspection. Zakari noted that the sophisticated packaging indicated the involvement of an organised smuggling syndicate. In an attempt to evade capture, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle and the animals, disappearing into the surrounding terrain under the cover of evening fog.
The Command, prioritising the welfare of the animals, transferred the pangolins to the Wildlife Conservation Centre on February 13, 2026. The handover was conducted by Assistant Comptroller Tajjudeen Bello, on behalf of the Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Oladapo Afeni. The area comptroller praised the officers for their courage and professionalism during the operation and reiterated the command’s vigilance against trans-border crime and its collaboration with partners to eliminate the illegal trade in endangered species.
In a stern warning to smugglers and traffickers, Afeni urged them to cease their activities, emphasizing the command’s unwavering resolve to combat illegal wildlife trade.