Fugitive Wildlife Trafficker Shamsideen Abubakar Arrested

Shamsideen Abubakar, a key figure in a wildlife trafficking network, was apprehended five years after being declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos. His arrest was part of a coordinated operation led by the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), which began in September 2021.

The enforcement team, which included the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), identified Abubakar and conducted operations that resulted in the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos. Abubakar's involvement in large-scale wildlife trafficking had been under investigation for almost two years.

Prof. Innoc Barikor, the Director General and CEO of NESREA, emphasized the Nigerian government's commitment to combat wildlife crime and ensure that Nigeria does not become a safe haven for such activities.