The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a live Olive Ridley Sea Turtle along the Nigeria-Benin border in a renewed effort to combat wildlife trafficking and protect endangered species.
The interception was made on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at about 10:30 p.m. during a routine patrol by officers along a footpath linking Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
The Command‘s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs John Tunde Ayagbalo, disclosed that the officers sighted a suspicious individual carrying a sack. Upon noticing the patrol team, the individual abandoned the sack and fled into a nearby bush.
SC Ayagbalo noted that despite efforts to apprehend the suspect, he escaped.
A search of the abandoned sack led to the discovery of a live Olive Ridley Sea Turtle, scientifically known as Lepidochelys olivacea. The animal was immediately secured and kept in safe custody before being handed over to the relevant wildlife authorities for proper care, rehabilitation, and eventual release into its natural habitat.
Speaking on the interception, the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Seme Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Norman Olisah Alumanah, described the operation as a demonstration of the vigilance, discipline, and professionalism of officers.
DC Alumanah reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to protecting endangered species and enforcing relevant national and international conservation laws, stressing that the nation’s borders would not be allowed to serve as corridors for wildlife trafficking.
He also appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the Service for providing the Command with enhanced logistics and operational assets to strengthen its enforcement capacity.
The Acting CAC urged members of border communities to provide credible intelligence to support the fight against wildlife trafficking, stating that tackling the crime requires collective responsibility and the cooperation of well-meaning Nigerians.
Alumanah also warned smugglers, poachers, and their collaborators to desist from the illicit trade, adding that the Command had intensified patrols, surveillance, and intelligence gathering across its area of responsibility.
He equally disclosed plans to complement enforcement activities with stakeholder education and sensitisation on endangered species, their ecological importance, and the legal implications of their unauthorised trade.
The Command stated that wildlife trafficking remains a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem preservation. Sea turtles, including the Olive Ridley species, face threats from illegal exploitation for their meat, eggs, shells, traditional medicine, and the exotic pet trade.
It explained that Nigeria is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), adopted in 1973 to regulate international trade in wild animals and plants and ensure their survival. The country domesticated the Convention through the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, Cap E9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, also empowers the Service to enforce relevant laws governing importation and exportation, including the suppression of smuggling and illicit trade in endangered species.
The Seme Area Command reiterated its commitment to revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, trade facilitation, and border security, while sustaining its role in environmental protection and the preservation of Nigeria’s biodiversity.
