The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a lion cub and two Patas monkeys at Gbaji, along the Badagry–Seme expressway in Lagos State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, said the animals were discovered during a routine stop-and-search operation involving a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA.
According to Sulaiman, officers discovered the endangered species concealed inside the vehicle in clear violation of Nigeria’s wildlife protection laws and international conventions.
He said two suspects, Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian, were arrested and confessed to buying the animals in Kano with the intention of transporting them to the Benin Republic.
“In our determination to demonstrate unwavering commitment to protecting our nation’s biodiversity and to uphold Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), operatives of the Command, on Sunday, 16 November 2025, at about 0219hrs, intercepted the blue Mazda vehicle during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji,” Sulaiman said.
He added, “Upon inspection, the operatives discovered one lion cub and two patas monkeys being transported in the vehicle in clear violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.”
The PRO further explained that the two suspects were detained for further investigation while the cub and monkeys were handed over to Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative for proper care.
“In line with Nigeria’s status as a signatory to CITES and consistent with global standards for wildlife protection, the endangered species were immediately confiscated and brought to the Command for documentation, while the two male suspects were detained for further investigation to ascertain the level of their involvement in wildlife trafficking,” the PRO said.
“For proper care, safety and expert handling, the endangered species were formally handed over on Sunday, 16 November 2025, to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative. The handover was carried out by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed (DC Administration) on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.”
Sulaiman noted that the two men were taken into custody for further investigation, while the animals were confiscated in line with Nigeria’s CITES commitments and global wildlife protection standards.
He stressed that for safety, medical evaluation and proper rehabilitation, the lion cub and monkeys were handed over to Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative on Sunday, 16 November 2025.
The handover was conducted by Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
Adenuga reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to enforcing all laws relating to wildlife protection, environmental conservation and border security.
He also pledged continued collaboration with relevant agencies to curb wildlife trafficking.
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