The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Thursday said 10,603 donkeys were killed in the first six months of 2025.
The Service said operatives intercepted a 1x40ft container loaded with 10,603 donkey genitals along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway on Friday, June 5, 2025.
It also said 220 live endangered animals were rescued, ten suspects arrested, one convicted, and nine other cases are pending in court.
The Head of Special Wildlife at the NCS, AC Anuhu Mani, said the interception aligns with efforts to protect Nigeria’s biodiversity, combat illegal wildlife trafficking, and fulfil the country’s international obligations under CITES and related conservation agreements.
He said, “We reflect on the remarkable progress and milestones achieved by the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office under the Customs Intelligence Unit, over the past six months, from December 2024 through June 2025.
“Between December 2024 and June 2025, our team has successfully intercepted the following: 6087.9 kg of Pangolin scales; 4.15kg of worked Ivory; 157 Live African Grey Parrots; 20 green Parrots; fourl live Senegal Parrots; two Budgies; six live Monkeys; four live Pangolins; 3022 donkey skins; 37 Taxidermies; 16 Zebra Skins and 10603 Male Donkey Genitals”.
“We have apprehended more than ten suspects involved in wildlife trafficking networks, out of this we already have one conviction while the other cases are ongoing.
“These actions have disrupted entire supply chains, reducing the availability of wildlife products on the black market,” he said.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service has intensified its wildlife protection efforts by establishing the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Represented by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, Adeniyi said the office is responsible for intelligence gathering, profiling, investigations, and coordinated enforcement targeting transnational criminal groups engaged in wildlife exploitation.
“This seizure is not an isolated incident. Over the past 12 months, the Special Wildlife Office has uncovered and disrupted multiple illicit wildlife trafficking operations across the country,” Adeniyi said.
“Noteworthy among these include the recovery of six African Grey Parrots and the arrest of one suspect on 10 December 2024 at Kano, the interception of two live pangolins, five Mona monkeys, two Tantalus monkeys, one baby baboon and an African Grey Parrot at Lagos Airport in May 2025.
“In another separate operation, there was an arrest of one suspect in the Ikom area of Cross River State linked to seizures of 213 parrot heads, six eagle heads, 128 hornbill heads, and other exotic species.
“On 13 January 2025, the Service handed over rescued tortoises to the National Park Service in Oyo State.
“Several seizures involving taxidermy specimens, such as life-sized lions, zebra hides, gorilla parts, and pangolin scales have been recorded in various ports and logistics routes nationwide.
“One such case involved 119.4kg of pangolin scales found in a container concealed in sacks around the Calabar area of Cross River State.”
