…WARNS TRAFFICKERS AGAINST ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’, Kaduna, has handed over a massive seizure of donkey bones and skins valued at over ₦3.94 billion to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in a decisive move against illegal wildlife trafficking.
The handover, which took place on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at the Unit’s headquarters in Kaduna, was confirmed in a press release signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Saidu Nuruddeen.
Comptroller Aminu Sule, who heads the Unit, disclosed that the confiscated items comprised 700 bags of donkey bones, valued at ₦1.86 billion, and 2,500 pieces of donkey skins worth ₦2.07 billion. The donkey skins were seized on September 18, while the bones had been intercepted earlier, bringing the total duty-paid value to more than ₦3.94 billion.
“Donkeys are a lifeline to rural communities, serving as a means of livelihood and local transportation. Their indiscriminate slaughter undermines sustainable development,” Comptroller Sule stated.
He warned traffickers to desist from the illicit trade, stressing that FOU Zone ‘B’ would not relent in enforcing environmental laws, protecting endangered species, and preventing Nigeria from becoming a hub for illegal wildlife trade. Sule also commended his officers for their vigilance and acknowledged the intelligence support of sister agencies, noting that the operation aligns with Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi’s policy of Collaboration, Consolidation, and Innovation.
The Comptroller further called on communities, transporters, and traders to cooperate with authorities by reporting suspicious activities linked to wildlife trafficking.
Receiving the seized items, NESREA’s Kaduna State Coordinator, Hene Emmanuel, lauded Customs for its proactive enforcement and assured that the agency would commence immediate investigation, ensure safe disposal of the contraband, and trace those behind the illegal trade.
He stressed that the trafficking of donkey parts poses serious ecological and socio-economic risks, reaffirming NESREA’s commitment to collaborate with Customs and other stakeholders in the fight against environmental crimes.
The event, witnessed by representatives of security and regulatory agencies, concluded with the formal handover of the donkey bones and skins to NESREA for further action in line with Nigeria’s environmental protection laws.
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