Nigeria Nabs Fugitive Wildlife Trafficker After 5-Year Manhunt

Nigeria’s crackdown on illegal wildlife trafficking recorded a major breakthrough on Tuesday with the arrest of a fugitive suspect, Shamsideen Abubakar, who had been on the run for nearly five years.

Abubakar, described by the authorities as a key player in an international trafficking network, was apprehended in a joint operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).

The suspect had been declared wanted by the Federal High Court following his alleged involvement in large-scale wildlife trafficking and had evaded arrest since September 2021.

His trail dates back to a major enforcement operation in Lagos, where security agencies uncovered a trafficking ring and arrested two of his associates. The raid also led to the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales, one of the largest such interceptions in the country.

Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the arrest sends a strong warning to traffickers that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for environmental crimes.

He stressed that the success was driven by intelligence sharing, sustained investigation, and joint enforcement actions, adding that the agencies remain committed to prosecuting offenders to the full extent of the law.

Barikor further called on the public to support ongoing efforts by reporting suspicious activities, insisting that the clampdown on illegal wildlife trafficking will be sustained.

He added that the latest arrest underscores growing coordination among enforcement agencies and international partners to dismantle organised wildlife crime networks operating within and beyond Nigeria.