Customs Intercept Lion Cub, Patas Monkeys Smuggled From Kano to Benin Republic
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys that were being smuggled out of the country through the Badagry–Seme border route.
The animals were seized on Sunday during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji, along the Badagry–Seme Expressway. According to a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, the interception reflects the Service’s strengthened efforts to curb wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species in line with national and international regulations.
Sulaiman explained that operatives stopped a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA at about 2:19 a.m. Upon inspection, officers discovered the lion cub and two patas monkeys hidden inside the vehicle—an act deemed a violation of Nigeria’s wildlife protection laws and its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
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Two suspects, identified as Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian, claimed ownership of the animals. They reportedly confessed to purchasing the wildlife in Kano with the intention of transporting them to the Benin Republic.
“In accordance with Nigeria’s status as a CITES signatory, the animals were immediately confiscated and taken to the command for documentation,” Sulaiman stated. “The suspects have been detained for further investigation to establish their level of involvement in wildlife trafficking.”
For proper care and handling, the lion cub and monkeys were formally handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative. The handover was conducted on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, Wale Adenuga, by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Administration, A.Y. Mohammed.
The Area Controller reaffirmed the command’s unwavering dedication to enforcing wildlife protection laws, strengthening environmental conservation, and tightening border security operations. He added that the Command would continue collaborating with local and international partners to combat the illegal trade in endangered species.
Nigeria ratified CITES in 1974, with the Convention taking effect in the country in 1975. The country has, in recent years, intensified partnerships—including cooperation with China—to curb illegal wildlife trade and safeguard species threatened by global demand.
By PRNigeria
