In a daring attempt to suppress the import, export, and general trade in animals that are protected as endangered, Federal Operation Unit FOU zone B Kaduna declared on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, that they had seized goods valued at more than $3 billion, including donkeys and other products.
The products that were intercepted along the Sokoto/Gusau road in Zamfara were being exported by people he described as unscrupulous elements with no regard for the lives and preservation of endangered species like the donkey, which is on the verge of extinction, according to Comptroller Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu, who made the disclosure at a press briefing in Kaduna.
“On April 25, 2024, unit members acting upon reliable information stopped a single truck traveling along Zamfara state’s Sokoto/Gisau Road, bearing the license plate GGE 526XL. The truck was transporting illegal goods, which were taken to Kaduna for additional investigation.
After a thorough inspection, it was found that the truck was transporting 750 sacks of donkey bones.Two billion, three hundred and sixty-three million, five hundred thousand naira (#2,363,500,000) was the estimated DPV for the donkey bones.
You may find it interesting to learn that one (1) suspect was taken into custody in relation to the seizure. Once more, on May 5, 2024, the Unit is agents stopped two canter trucks transporting dried donkey meat on the Kontagora-Tegina road in the state of Niger.
Upon conducting a thorough physical examination, it was discovered that the trucks held 860 sacks of dried donkey meat. In relation to the seizure, three additional suspects were taken into custody.
“Imports and exports shall where applicable be subject to prohibitions and restrictions relating to; the protection of the health and life of humans, animals, or plants; controlled goods imported or exported in line with relevant international laws, conventions on international Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)” is what Section 55 (1) paragraphs c and i (1) of the NCS Act 2023 states, and it is clearly violated by the above illegal trading.According to Shauibu
The government is extremely concerned, according to the Comptroller, that certain individuals’ illegal and unpatriotic actions—especially those of smugglers—are pushing donkeys, an endangered species, to the brink of extinction.
Comptroller Shuaibu emphasized that Nigeria has a responsibility to stop the endangerment of rare animal species since the country is a signatory to the international convention on their protection.
Thus, the Unit and the Nigerian Customs Service will not and cannot turn a blind eye to this illicit trade continuing to occur.
The Comptroller stated that the Unit made seizures valued at over three billion naira between April 17 and May 17, 2024, and that the officers and men of the Unit were responsible for making this possible.
At this point, let me state that the men and officers of the Unit are prepared, committed, and focused on continuing to perform their duties with the highest level of civility and unwavering professionalism.
We will be ruthless in carrying out the laws and policy directives of the Federal Government as instructed by Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management, so those who would like to test our resolve might want to reconsider.
Initiatives to combat smuggling are quickly moving beyond the outdated, conventional physical methods.
The NCS has enhanced its information technology kits to hone its intelligence gathering abilities.” Shuaibu took note.
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