3 Arrested For Trading In Parrots, Antelopes

Three persons have been arrested in a joint operation by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the National Park Service for allegedly trafficking in endangered wildlife species in Abuja.

Musa Usman, Samila Abdullahi and Saidu Jagaban were arrested in different parts of the city over illegal sale of prohibited exotic birds and wild animals contrary to provisions of the Endangered Species Act, NESREA said in a statement.

Whilst Usman and Abdullahi were found in possession of 15 Senegalese parrots and one African grey parrot, Saidu Jagaban was arrested for hawking three dead antelopes. The trio will remain in custody while investigation continues, the agency said yesterday.

Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, reminded Nigerians that trafficking in endangered species remained a crime under Nigerian law, warning that perpetrators would be prosecuted accordingly.

He stressed that all living things play different roles in ensuring biodiversity sustainability, hence the need to protect those classified as endangered species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to which Nigeria is a party.