The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Command, has intercepted four live pangolins in a pre-dawn anti-smuggling operation along the Yemoamota–Igboora corridor of Ogun State.
The seizure occurred at about 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2026, following credible intelligence acted upon by the Command’s patrol team. Officers on routine surveillance stopped a motorcycle along the Yemoamota–Abule Igboora–Ebute Igboora axis. A detailed search uncovered four live pangolins confined in wire mesh cages and hidden inside a sack.
Customs officials said the concealment method indicates the involvement of an organised wildlife trafficking network operating across border communities.
According to the Command, the suspects abandoned the motorcycle and fled into nearby bush paths in an apparent attempt to evade arrest. Investigations and manhunt efforts are ongoing.
The Command noted that the interception supports Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which aims to curb the illegal trade in protected wildlife.
Following the operation, the rescued animals were transferred on February 13, 2026, to a designated Wildlife Conservation Centre for care and rehabilitation. The handover was conducted by Assistant Comptroller Tajjudeen Bello, Acting Deputy Controller (Administration), on behalf of the Acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni.
Afeni commended the patrol team for its vigilance and professionalism, describing the operation as a reflection of the Command’s sustained crackdown on trans-border crimes, particularly wildlife trafficking.
He also warned smugglers and traffickers to desist, stressing that the Ogun I Command remains prepared to detect, intercept, and prosecute offenders undermining environmental laws and national security.
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2026-02-15