Education
Katsina Commissioner hails Customs’ rescue of 48 endangered animals, seeks stronger fight against wildlife trafficking – EnviroNews
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The Katsina State Commissioner for Environment, Professor Mohammed A. Al-Amin, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), particularly the Kano/Jigawa Area Command, for intercepting 48 endangered wildlife species and arresting three suspected traffickers along the Kano–Daura Road.
Professor Al-Amin described the operation as both “deeply disturbing, but equally gladdening,” saying the attempted trafficking of such a large and diverse collection of wildlife underscored the growing threat posed by illegal wildlife trade to biodiversity and environmental security.
At the same time, he said the successful intervention by Customs officers had potentially saved dozens of animals from death and uncertain conditions.
The interception reportedly took place on August 25, 2026, at about 8:30 p.m. and involved 15 primates, including chimpanzees, baby gorillas and bush babies; four caracals and a civet cat; 25 wild birds, including greater bustards and rock fowls; as well as two albino crocodiles and a honey badger.
Three male suspects were arrested and subsequently handed over to the Special Wildlife Office at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution under the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and applicable regulations of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Reacting to the development, Al-Amin, a Professor of Energy and Environment, said the incident demonstrated the urgent need for Nigeria to treat wildlife trafficking as a serious environmental and transnational crime.
“As an environmental professional, I find the circumstances surrounding this seizure deeply disturbing. The idea that such a diverse collection of endangered animals could be captured, assembled and transported for illegal commercial purposes is a serious assault on our natural heritage.
“But I am equally gladdened that these animals were intercepted alive and rescued. Their survival is, in itself, a significant conservation victory.”
The Commissioner stressed that wildlife should not be viewed merely as commodities for commercial exploitation, but as vital components of functioning ecosystems and part of the natural heritage that must be preserved for present and future generations.
Rescue Must Go Beyond Seizure
Al-Amin said attention must now shift beyond the interception of the animals to their welfare, rehabilitation and long-term survival.
He expressed his willingness, through the Katsina State Ministry of Environment and within the appropriate institutional framework, to support the Nigeria Customs Service and other relevant authorities in ensuring that the rescued animals receive proper veterinary care, feeding, security and species-specific attention.
“The seizure is only the beginning of the conservation process. What happens to these animals afterwards is equally important,” he said.
“They have gone through capture, confinement and transportation, and many may have suffered considerable physical and psychological stress. We must therefore ensure that they receive appropriate veterinary assessment and rehabilitation before any decision is taken on their future.”
The Commissioner added that where scientifically appropriate and permitted by relevant authorities, his office would be willing to support efforts to rehabilitate and eventually return the animals to suitable natural habitats.
He, however, cautioned that any release programme must be guided by established wildlife management protocols, including assessments of the animals’ health, species requirements, geographical origin, habitat suitability and potential ecological risks.
Mobilising Local and International Support
Al-Amin also declared his readiness to leverage his professional networks within Nigeria and internationally to support efforts aimed at combating wildlife trafficking.
“This is a matter that goes beyond the boundaries of one state or one institution,” he said. “I am prepared to use my professional contacts locally and internationally to help bring the relevant expertise, conservation institutions, wildlife specialists and development partners together where their intervention can add value.”
He noted that Katsina State’s proximity to major northern transportation corridors makes it imperative for environmental authorities and security agencies to remain vigilant and strengthen intelligence sharing against wildlife trafficking networks.
The Commissioner called for closer collaboration among the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Parks authorities, security and law-enforcement agencies, state environmental authorities, conservation organisations, research institutions and international partners.
Call for Greater CITES Engagement
Al-Amin specifically called on CITES and its partners to deepen engagement with Nigeria and provide greater support for efforts to combat the illegal trafficking of endangered wildlife.
“I would like to use this opportunity to call on CITES and its partners to join hands with Nigeria, and with states such as Katsina that are located within environmentally vulnerable regions and important movement corridors,” he said.
“The animals rescued in this operation are not merely Nigerian assets. They are part of the world’s natural heritage.”
He said the transnational nature of wildlife trafficking demands an equally coordinated international response, particularly in intelligence gathering, border control, forensic identification, prosecution, wildlife rehabilitation and efforts to dismantle criminal trafficking networks.
Protecting Katsina’s Fragile Environment
The Commissioner also drew attention to the ecological vulnerability of Katsina, which lies within Nigeria’s Sahelian and semi-arid ecological zone.
According to him, the region faces mounting pressure from climate variability, land degradation, desertification, population growth and increasing demand for land and natural resources.
“In a fragile Sahelian environment, the disappearance of one species may appear insignificant to the ordinary observer, but the cumulative loss of biodiversity can have profound consequences for ecological resilience,” Al-Amin said.
“Our wildlife, vegetation, soils and water resources are interconnected. Protecting one component strengthens the entire ecosystem.”
He said the need to protect biodiversity aligns with the environmental direction of the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, which has placed increasing emphasis on climate action, environmental restoration, tree planting, urban greenery, land restoration and the protection of vulnerable natural resources.
According to the Commissioner, the state’s environmental interventions reflect an understanding that Katsina’s future prosperity depends not only on economic growth but also on protecting and restoring ecological systems that sustain agriculture, water resources, livelihoods and human settlements.
‘Make Wildlife Trafficking a High-Risk Crime’
Al-Amin urged Nigerians to reject the practice of treating endangered animals as luxury commodities, pets or sources of profit, while calling on communities to provide information to authorities about suspicious wildlife capture, possession, transportation or trading.
He also praised the Customs officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and integrity, particularly reports that the suspects allegedly attempted to offer bribes which the officers rejected.
“The courage of the Customs personnel in rejecting inducements and proceeding with the seizure deserves commendation,” he said. “Environmental laws are only as effective as the institutions and individuals prepared to enforce them.”
The Commissioner said the successful interception should send a strong warning to wildlife traffickers while providing encouragement to conservationists and environmental authorities that determined enforcement can yield results.
“We should celebrate the fact that these animals have been saved, but we must not lose sight of the disturbing circumstances that brought them into captivity in the first place,” Al-Amin said.
“Our objective must be to make wildlife trafficking increasingly difficult, increasingly risky and ultimately unprofitable.”
He reiterated his readiness to support the Nigeria Customs Service, relevant federal agencies, CITES and conservation partners in ensuring that the rescued animals receive appropriate care and, where possible, are rehabilitated and returned to the wild.