Fugitive Wildlife Trafficker Arrested After Five Years

Shamsideen Abubakar, a fugitive wildlife trafficker, was apprehended after five years of evading arrest. His arrest was part of a joint enforcement operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Nigeria Customs Service (NC), and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).

Abubakar had previously been declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos. His arrest follows a significant crackdown that began in September 2021, which led to the arrest of associates and the seizure of 1,000 kilograms of pangolin scales in the Ikeja area of Lagos, marking one of the largest seizures in the country.

Prof. Innoc Barikor, the Director General of NESREA, emphasized the agency's commitment to eradicating wildlife crime and the importance of inter-agency collaboration and public support in reporting suspicious activities. The arrest sends a strong message that wildlife trafficking will not be tolerated in Nigeria, reinforcing the country’s zero-tolerance stance on environmental crimes.