A joint enforcement operations by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) have apprehended wildlife trafficker Shamsideen Abubakar previously declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos after five years on the run.

Abubakar, identified as a key figure in the trafficking network had been on the run since September 2021 following a coordinated operation by the WJC and NCS that led to the arrest of his associates, Sunday Ebenyi and Salif Sandwidi. The raid also resulted in the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

Speaking on the arrest, the Director General/ CEO of NESREA, Prof Innocent Barikor said, “we are determined to ensure that Nigeria is not a safe haven for wildlife crime, as the Agency and her partners will pursue, arrest, and prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law.

According to Barikor,Shamsideen Abubakar’s arrest, five years after involvement in large-scale wildlife trafficking and almost two years being officially declared wanted by the Federal High Court points to the commitment of Nigeria’s law enforcement and NGO partners like the Wildlife Justice Commission to conduct long-term investigations with a multi-dimensional operational approach.

The Director General further explained that this demonstrates determination of the Nigerian Government and its partners to rid the country of illegal wildlife traffickers, and reinforces the country’s zero-tolerance for crimes that threaten biodiversity and undermine national and international laws.

“This further disrupts the already significantly weakened criminal networks in Nigeria those connected from other countries.

The arrest sends a strong signal to Nigeria’s illegal wildlife trafficking network that arrest warrants will be strongly pursued.

We remain resolute on this, and will ensure that every seizure, every arrest, and every conviction is pursued with unrelenting commitment until this illicit trade is eradicated from our shores.”

Barikor added, “This success we have achieved today is the result of strategic partnership, intelligence sharing, and joint enforcement operation. We salute our partners and other sister agencies while we call on the public to report suspicious activities, and warned intending traffickers to desist because the era of impunity is over,”