The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Saturday, reported that it has seized 105 wild birds being illicitly transported via the Seme-Badagry Expressway.
The Command’s Controller, Comptroller Timi Bomodi, stated in a release that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the birds amounted to N24,912,928.
Bomodi explained that during a patrol along the Seme-Badagry Expressway, officers of the command discovered the birds after intercepting two buses. One bus was en route from Togo to Nigeria, while the other was heading from Katsina to Benin Republic on September 27 and 28, respectively.
“The cross-examination of these buses revealed that 60 green parrots, 14 budgerigar parrots, six eastern rosella parrots, two macaw parrots, one white cockatoo parrots.”
“Others are four Rose Ringed Parakeets parrots, one Maidain Dock bird, three love birds, and four other birds were discovered.”
“About 10 of these birds have died due to the trauma of transporting them in this condition.”
“Two suspects were also arrested in connection with the seizure,” he said.
Bomodi strongly denounced this unlawful behavior exhibited by certain individuals in society.
He emphasized that trafficking in endangered wildlife violates the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international treaty to which Nigeria is a committed signatory.
The Controller affirmed that those involved in this illicit trade will consistently face interception and apprehension until they desist from using the Lagos-Abidjan corridor for such activities.
“In line with the dictates of NCS of promoting inter-agency collaboration and synergy, the seized wild birds have been handed over to the Officials of the National Park Service as it is their responsibility to rehabilitate and protect them from further harm,” he said.
According to reports, it has it that the command had on Sept.24 also intercepted smuggled African parrots en route to the Benin Republic from Kaduna.
The Controller of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service said that a luxury bus carrying 105 wild birds was intercepted on the Seme-Badagry Expressway.
He added that the birds had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N6.9 million and that two suspects were arrested in connection with the seizure