News Report – July 23, 2025
In a significant move against illegal wildlife trafficking, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Command, has intercepted and confiscated 420 kilograms of pangolin scales in its intensified efforts to curb the trade of endangered species.
The seizure, which was made during a targeted operation in Kano, underscores the Service’s commitment to enforcing international conventions and national laws protecting endangered wildlife. Pangolins, often trafficked for their scales and considered the most trafficked mammal globally, are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Comptroller Dauda Chana, the Customs Area Controller for Kano/Jigawa, while addressing journalists on Tuesday, said the operation followed actionable intelligence and was part of ongoing measures to dismantle illegal wildlife networks operating within the country. He stressed that the illicit wildlife trade not only threatens biodiversity but also violates Nigeria’s environmental protection laws.
Chana further revealed that investigations are underway to track the individuals and syndicates behind the shipment. He warned that the Command would continue to pursue wildlife traffickers and prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.
Environmental advocacy groups have applauded the operation, calling it a bold step in protecting endangered species and reinforcing Nigeria’s role in the global fight against wildlife crimes.
