The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), in collaboration with the National Park Service, has arrested three individuals in Abuja over alleged involvement in the illegal trade of endangered wildlife species.
The arrests were announced in a statement on Wednesday by NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor.
The suspects—Musa Usman, Samila Abdullahi, and Saidu Jagaban—were apprehended in different parts of the capital for selling prohibited exotic birds and wild animals, in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
Usman and Abdullahi were found in possession of 15 Senegalese parrots and one African grey parrot, while Jagaban was caught hawking three dead antelopes, the statement revealed.
“The trio is to remain in custody while investigations continue,” it added.
NESREA’s Director-General, Innocent Barikor, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing wildlife protection laws, warning that trafficking endangered species remains a punishable offense under Nigerian law.
Barikor emphasized Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), stating that the protection of wildlife is critical to maintaining biodiversity.
“All living things contribute to the sustainability of our ecosystem,” he said.
