Follow Us on Google
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has said it intercepted 63 African birds comprising endangered wildlife species of 62 African parrots and 1 hawk being smuggled and en-route Benin Republic from Kaduna.
In a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi, the Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Timi Bormodi, said this while addressing journalists at the command.
Bomordi said that the contraband loaded in a luxurious bus was intercepted on Sunday along the Seme-Badagry Expressway.
He added that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures.
“Upon search of the bus, 51 live green parrots; five live African Grey Parrots; five dead green Parrots; one dead African Grey Parrot; and one live Hawk in iron nets and a Paper Box were discovered. Six of these birds have died due to the trauma of transporting them in this condition. Two suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure,” he explained.
He added that the African Birds had a duty-paid value of N6.9 million while he condemned the act.
He added that trade in endangered wildlife contravenes the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora which is an international agreement to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Bomordi said that in line with the dictates of the NCS in promoting inter-agency collaboration and synergy, the seized parrots would be handed over to the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service.
