A suspected wildlife trafficker, Shamsideen Abubakar, has been arrested after five years on the run in a coordinated operation involving the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Wildlife Justice Commission.
Abubakar, who had been declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos, is believed to be a central figure in an international wildlife trafficking network. He had evaded arrest since September 2021, following a major enforcement operation that led to the capture of his associates, Sunday Ebenyi and Salif Sandwidi.
The earlier operation, conducted by the Wildlife Justice Commission in collaboration with the Nigeria Customs Service, resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 kilogrammes of pangolin scales in Ikeja, Lagos—one of the largest such interceptions recorded in Nigeria, highlighting the scale of illicit wildlife trade linked to the country.
Authorities said Abubakar’s arrest underscores the persistence of Nigerian law enforcement agencies and their international partners in pursuing environmental crime suspects. The operation was described as intelligence-driven, reflecting sustained efforts to dismantle transnational trafficking networks.
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NESREA, Innocent Barikor, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to combating wildlife crime. He stated that Nigeria would not serve as a safe haven for traffickers, adding that offenders would be tracked and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Barikor attributed the success of the operation to enhanced inter-agency collaboration, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement strategies. He also urged members of the public to support ongoing efforts by reporting suspicious activities, warning that impunity for wildlife crimes would no longer be tolerated.
The arrest is considered a major setback for trafficking networks already under pressure from intensified enforcement actions. It also reinforces the resolve of authorities to execute arrest warrants, regardless of how long suspects remain at large.
In recent years, Nigeria has strengthened its crackdown on wildlife trafficking, a crime that poses serious threats to biodiversity, undermines conservation efforts, and contravenes both national and international regulations. Officials say the latest arrest signals a continued zero-tolerance approach to protecting endangered species.
