Customs repatriates rescued baby gorilla to Congo in landmark wildlife operation
The Nigeria Customs Service has repatriated Bili, a rescued female baby gorilla, to the Republic of Congo following a seven-day international operation described as the Service’s first full-cycle wildlife enforcement exercise.
The operation, conducted from September 22 to 28, 2026, involved the interception, rescue, rehabilitation and eventual international repatriation of the gorilla from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire, Congo.
Bili was rescued by Customs officers in August 2023 during an enforcement operation targeting wildlife trafficking and was subsequently placed under the care of the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar for rehabilitation.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, Bili’s origin was established through DNA testing, which confirmed that the gorilla was from the Republic of Congo.
Following the confirmation, arrangements were made for her transfer from Calabar to Lagos and subsequent airlift to Congo by DHL at no cost.
Bili travelled with a caregiver and a veterinary doctor to ensure her safety and proper care throughout the journey.
The Service said the repatriation was carried out in accordance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with support from the CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Gorillas are listed under Appendix I of CITES, which provides the highest level of protection for species threatened with extinction.
The Customs Service said Bili’s return marked the culmination of a coordinated process involving law enforcement, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary care and international cooperation.
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It added that Nigeria’s commitment to CITES obligations had continued to strengthen its efforts to combat the illegal wildlife trade and ensure that rescued animals receive appropriate care before being returned to suitable destinations.
The development comes amid intensified enforcement by the Customs Special Wildlife Office under the Customs Intelligence Unit.
Between January and September 2026, the Special Wildlife Office and Customs Area Commands recorded 22 wildlife seizures, rescued 699 live animals and arrested 11 suspects in connection with wildlife trafficking.
The seizures included 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory, alongside various live endangered and protected species intercepted in different parts of the country.
The enforcement operations were conducted in Ogun, Kano, Borno/Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos, among other locations.
The Service said its interventions during the period included the rescue of pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees.
It also recorded the interception of 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks in September.
The Customs Service said the operations resulted in several arrests and further demonstrated its efforts to disrupt trafficking networks involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Service acknowledged the contributions of the Pandrillus Foundation, DHL, Focused Conservation, the Aspinall Wildlife Trust, the CITES Desk of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Government of the Republic of Congo to Bili’s safe return.
The Service reiterated that its responsibilities extend beyond revenue collection to include national security and environmental protection.
It consequently urged members of the public to report information on illegal wildlife trafficking to the nearest Customs formation.
By PRNigeria
