By Doris Esa
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has apprehended a suspected wildlife trafficker, Shamsideen Abubakar, after five years on the run.
Mrs Nwamaka Ejiofor, NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ejiofor said the arrest was carried out in a joint operation involving NESREA, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).
According to her, Abubakar had previously been declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos prior to his arrest.
She said Abubakar, identified as a key figure in a wildlife trafficking network, had been on the run since September 2021.
Ejiofor explained that a coordinated operation by the WJC and NCS earlier led to the arrest of his associates, Sunday Ebenyi and Salif Sandwidi.
She added that the operation also resulted in the seizure of 1,009.5 kilogrammes of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos.
Ejiofor said Abubakar’s arrest came five years after his involvement in large-scale wildlife trafficking and nearly two years after he was officially declared wanted by the Federal High Court.
She said the development demonstrates the commitment of Nigerian law enforcement agencies and the WJC to sustained, intelligence-driven investigations.
“This arrest demonstrates the determination of the Nigerian Government and its partners to rid the country of illegal wildlife traffickers and reinforces its zero-tolerance for crimes that threaten biodiversity and violate national and international laws.
“It further disrupts already weakened criminal networks operating within Nigeria and across borders,” she said.
Ejiofor added that the arrest sends a strong signal to wildlife trafficking networks that arrest warrants would be rigorously enforced.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Prof. Innocent Barikor, said the agency remained committed to ensuring that Nigeria is not a safe haven for wildlife crime.
“The agency and its partners will pursue, arrest, and prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.
“We remain resolute and will ensure that every seizure, every arrest, and every conviction is pursued with unrelenting commitment until this illicit trade is eradicated.
“This success is the result of strategic partnerships, intelligence sharing, and joint enforcement operations.
“We commend our partners and other sister agencies, while urging the public to report suspicious activities. We also warn intending traffickers that the era of impunity is over,” Barikor said. (NAN)
Edited by Tosin Kolade
