Nigeria Customs seizes donkey parts worth N3.94bn in Kaduna and hands them over to NESREA, vowing tougher action on wildlife traffickers

Nigeria Customs seizes donkey parts worth ₦3.94 billion in a major victory against illegal wildlife trafficking.

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The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone B, Kaduna, made the interception during a string of anti-smuggling operations, preventing the illicit export of endangered animal parts.

The haul included 700 bags of donkey bones valued at ₦1.86 billion and 2,500 dried donkey skins valued at ₦2.07 billion, in clear violation of Nigeria’s environmental laws and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The official handover took place on Tuesday in Kaduna, where Comptroller Aminu Sule, Customs Area Controller of FOU Zone B, transferred the seized goods to Mr. Hene Emmanuel, State Coordinator for the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).

Sule highlighted the socio-economic damage caused by the illegal donkey trade. “Donkeys are vital to rural life in Nigeria, used for transport and agriculture. Their unsustainable slaughter for foreign markets threatens rural livelihoods and long-term development,” he said.

He added that the seizure serves as a strong warning to traffickers that Zone B will intensify its clampdown on environmental crimes.

Receiving the contraband, NESREA’s Emmanuel praised Customs for its intelligence-led operations.

He said legal proceedings had already begun against suspects connected to the seizures and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to prosecuting those behind the trade to break the demand chain.

“This is not just a seizure; it’s a statement,” Emmanuel said. “We’re taking firm legal action to ensure such crimes do not go unpunished.”

The high-profile handover ceremony was attended by representatives from sister agencies, highlighting multi-agency collaboration in protecting Nigeria’s endangered wildlife.

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With this operation, Nigeria Customs and NESREA have signalled that wildlife trafficking is not only an environmental issue, but a national security and economic concern, especially for communities who rely on these animals for daily survival.