The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the repatriation of Bili, a rescued female baby gorilla, from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the Republic of the Congo, marking the Service’s first international full-cycle wildlife operation.
The feat was achieved through the Service’s Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and was carried out from September 22 to 28, 2026. The repatriation comes amid intensified enforcement against illegal wildlife trade.
The National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 30. He noted that the operation covered the interception, rescue, rehabilitation and safe return of a trafficked animal to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga, Département du Kouilou, Pointe-Noire, in the Republic of the Congo.
Maiwada noted that Bili was rescued in August 2023 by officers of the Service during enforcement operations against wildlife trafficking and subsequently placed under the care of the Pandrillus Foundation, Calabar, for rehabilitation.
“After a DNA test confirmed Bili is from the Republic of Congo, officials arranged his repatriation from Calabar to Lagos, then airlifted him to the Congo by DHL at no cost, accompanied by a caregiver and a veterinary doctor.
“In line with the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the repatriation was supported by the CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment, as the gorilla (Bili) is listed under Appendix I of CITES and is therefore afforded the highest level of protection as a species threatened with extinction,” he said.
Maiwada stated that, as a signatory to CITES, Nigeria continues to demonstrate its commitment to the protection of endangered species and the responsible enforcement of international wildlife protection obligations.
He stressed that, through the SWO, the Service remains committed to strengthening its enforcement capabilities to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks and building partnerships to ensure that rescued animals receive proper care and are safely returned to their appropriate destinations and natural habitats.
Maiwada emphasised that Bili’s repatriation represents the culmination of interception, rescue, rehabilitation and international cooperation in the protection of endangered wildlife.
He revealed that the SWO and Customs Area Commands recorded 22 wildlife seizures, rescued 699 live animals and arrested 11 suspects between January and September 2026.
The seizures included 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory, alongside various live endangered and protected species intercepted across different locations.
The spokesperson also disclosed that enforcement operations during the period resulted in seizures and rescues in Ogun, Kano, Borno/Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos, among other locations.
He added that notable interventions included the rescue of pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as the interception of 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks in September.
The operations also led to arrests linked to wildlife trafficking, further demonstrating the Service’s sustained efforts to disrupt the illegal wildlife trade.
The Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and his management team, acknowledged the invaluable support of the Pandrillus Foundation, DHL, Focused Conservation, the Aspinall Wildlife Trust, the CITES Desk of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Government of the Republic of the Congo for welcoming Bili home.
The NCS reaffirmed that its mandate extends beyond revenue generation to include national security and the protection of the environment.
It further urged members of the public to report any information relating to illegal wildlife trade to the nearest Customs formation.
