The Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted two live lion cubs allegedly being smuggled out of Nigeria through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in an intelligence-led operation that led to three arrests.
The suspects, including the alleged owner of the cubs, a driver and a Customs clearing agent, were arrested on 4 August by the Special Wildlife Office of the Customs Intelligence Unit, in collaboration with other Customs units and conservation partner Focused Conservation.
The cubs were allegedly being moved from Kano through Abuja to Congo-Brazzaville, according to Anuhu Mani, officer-in-charge of the Special Wildlife Office.
Customs operatives monitoring the airport’s Cargo Terminal identified a black SUV suspected of being involved in the operation.
During a physical inspection, an officer heard animal cries from the vehicle’s rear compartment.
A search uncovered the two cubs hidden inside crates in the luggage area.
The suspects were taken into custody and are being questioned as investigators work to establish the wider network allegedly behind the trafficking operation.
Mani said the seizure demonstrated Customs’ determination to prevent Nigeria from becoming a transit route for international wildlife trafficking.
“This operation sends an unmistakable message that Nigeria will not serve as a transit hub or safe haven for wildlife trafficking syndicates,” he said.
He described the rescue as particularly significant amid declining wild lion populations in Nigeria, calling it both an enforcement and conservation victory.
The alleged trafficking contravenes national and international wildlife protection laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Nigeria’s Endangered Species Act.
The cubs have been handed over to Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative for veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and specialised care.