The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted a lion cub and two patas monkeys being transported to the Benin Republic during a stop-and-search operation along the Badagry–Seme Expressway.
According to a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Sulaiman, operatives discovered the endangered animals on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at about 2:19 a.m., after stopping a blue Mazda vehicle with registration number MUS 743 HA at Gbaji.
During the inspection, the officers found the lion cub and two patas monkeys hidden in the vehicle, in violation of national and international wildlife protection laws.
Customs Area Controller Wale Adenuga said two men — Mr. Mathew Kofi, a Beninese national, and Mr. Nasiru Usman Gwandu, a Nigerian — claimed ownership of the animals, admitting they purchased them in Kano and were transporting them to the Benin Republic. Both suspects failed to present valid documentation and have been taken into custody for further investigation into their alleged involvement in wildlife trafficking.
The command stressed that the interception reflects Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its biodiversity and enforcing regulations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
“In line with Nigeria’s obligations as a CITES signatory, the endangered species were immediately confiscated and brought to the command for documentation,” the statement added.
The animals were later handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative for proper care and expert handling.
Adenuga reaffirmed the command’s resolve to enforce wildlife protection, environmental conservation, and border security laws, pledging continued collaboration with relevant agencies to curb the illegal trade in endangered species.
In a separate development, the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C of the Nigeria Customs Service has handed over 151 wraps of Cannabis Sativa and 15 wraps of Canadian Loud to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Owerri, Imo State. The substances — weighing 77,500 grammes and 8,600 grammes respectively — were seized during routine patrols after operatives uncovered the concealed drugs.
