Seme customs foils wildlife trafficking, rescues lion cub, monkeys

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys being smuggled to Benin Republic through the Badagry-Seme border.

In a release by Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman, Public Relations Officer(PRO) of the command, made available to Nationupdate stated that on Sunday, 16 November 2025, at about 0219hrs, operatives of the Command intercepted a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA during a stop-and-search operation at Gbaji, along the Badagry-Seme Expressway.

According to the report, operatives discovered one lion cub and two patas monkeys being transported in the vehicle, violating national and international wildlife protection laws.

The animals were being taken by two male suspects Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian, who claimed they bought them in Kano and were heading to Benin Republic.

Comptroller Wale Adenuga

The endangered species were confiscated and brought to the Command for documentation, as Nigeria is a signatory to CITES. The  suspects were detained for further investigation into their involvement in wildlife trafficking.

The animals were handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative on Sunday, 16 November 2025, for proper care and expert handling. Deputy Comptroller AY Mohammed represented Customs Area Controller Comptroller Wale Adenuga during the handover.

Comptroller Adenuga reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to enforcing laws on wildlife protection, environmental conservation, and border security, stating that the Command will continue to work with relevant agencies to curb the illegal trade in endangered species.