By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, has intercepted four live pangolins during a targeted patrol operation along the Ajilete creeks in Ogun State.
The interception was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi, who described the operation as a significant boost to Nigeria’s efforts to protect biodiversity and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
According to Abdullahi, the seizure occurred at about 6:33 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, 2026, when operatives of the unit, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a wooden boat conveying the endangered animals in wire mesh cages along Alapa Creek in Ajilete.
He said the manner in which the pangolins were confined suggested the involvement of an organised wildlife smuggling syndicate. On sighting the Customs patrol team, the suspects reportedly fled into the creeks, abandoning both the animals and the boat.
To ensure the safety and welfare of the rescued animals, Abdullahi said the pangolins were handed over to the Wildlife Conservation Centre on Friday, January 16, 2026, at about 7:00 a.m.
“The handover was carried out by the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement, DC A.O. Oguntuase, on behalf of the Comptroller, FOU Zone A, Gambo Aliyu. Comptroller Aliyu commended the officers for their courage and professionalism during the nighttime operation and urged them to sustain vigilance against trans-border crimes,” the statement said.
The Customs Area Controller reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to the strict enforcement of wildlife protection laws and continued collaboration with relevant stakeholders to eliminate the illegal trade in endangered species.
The statement also quoted the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as commending the officers for their dedication to CITES enforcement, stressing that the interception underscores his administration’s zero-tolerance stance against activities that undermine Nigeria’s compliance with international wildlife protection agreements and economic stability.