Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency has announced the arrest of a fugitive wildlife trafficker, Shamsideen Abubakar, nearly five years after he was first implicated in a massive pangolin scales seizure that exposed Nigeria’s role in a global criminal network. Abubakar was apprehended in a joint enforcement operation involving NESREA, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), bringing to an end a long evasion that began in September 2021. The suspect had been officially declared wanted by the Federal High Court in Lagos and was identified as a key figure in an international wildlife trafficking network, according to a statement released by NESREA on April 22, 2026.
The case dates back to 2021, when the NCS and WJC conducted a coordinated operation in the Ikeja area of Lagos. That raid led to the seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales, one of the largest single hauls of the endangered mammal’s parts in Nigeria’s history. Two associates of Abubakar, Sunday Ebenyi and Salif Sandwidi, were arrested at the time, but the suspected kingpin evaded capture and went into hiding. A subsequent court order declared him wanted, yet he remained at large for nearly two additional years before authorities finally tracked him down.
NESREA’s Assistant Director of Press, Nwamaka Ejiofor, said in the official statement that the arrest demonstrates the commitment of Nigeria’s law enforcement agencies and international partners to sustained, intelligence-driven investigations. “This arrest demonstrates the determination of the Nigerian Government and its partners to rid the country of illegal wildlife traffickers and reinforces its zero-tolerance for crimes that threaten biodiversity and violate national and international laws,” she said. She added that the operation further disrupts already weakened criminal networks operating within Nigeria and across borders, sending a strong signal that outstanding arrest warrants will be rigorously enforced.
Reacting to the development, NESREA Director-General, Professor Innocent Barikor, reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to ensure that Nigeria does not become a safe haven for wildlife crime. “NESREA is determined to ensure that Nigeria is not a safe haven for wildlife crime,” Barikor said. “The agency and its partners will pursue, arrest, and prosecute offenders to the full extent of the law. We remain resolute and will ensure that every seizure, every arrest, and every conviction is pursued with unrelenting commitment until this illicit trade is eradicated from our shores.” He attributed the success of the operation to strategic partnerships, intelligence sharing, and joint enforcement operations, while urging the public to report suspicious activities and warning potential traffickers that the era of impunity is over.
The pangolin, a shy, scale-covered mammal, is the world’s most trafficked animal. Its scales are highly prized in traditional medicine, particularly in parts of Asia, where they are ground into powders despite having no proven medicinal value. Nigeria has become a major transit hub for pangolin scales sourced from across Africa, destined for markets in China and Southeast Asia. According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Nigeria-linked seizures between 2010 and 2021 involved over 190,000 kilograms of pangolin derivatives, representing the slaughter of at least 800,000 animals. The 2021 Ikeja seizure alone, valued at over N1.7 billion, was among the largest ever recorded in West Africa and prompted a renewed international focus on the country’s enforcement gaps.
Abubakar’s arrest follows a string of recent successes by Nigerian authorities in combating wildlife crime. In August 2021, the NCS arrested three suspects and seized over N22 billion worth of pangolin scales and elephant tusks in Lagos. That operation, involving 17,137 kilograms of pangolin scales, was described by officials as one of the largest ever in the country. The suspects were later charged in court, while the alleged kingpin remained a fugitive. More recently, NESREA has intensified its collaboration with international organisations such as the WJC and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), receiving technical support and intelligence to improve detection and interdiction capabilities.
Despite these gains, challenges remain. Wildlife trafficking networks are highly organised, often involving corrupt officials, sophisticated money laundering schemes, and porous borders. The low risk of prosecution and high profit margins have made the trade attractive to criminal syndicates. Conservationists have repeatedly called for stronger penalties and better resourcing for enforcement agencies. The seizure of 1,009.50 kilograms of pangolin scales in Ikeja represented the remains of thousands of animals, many of which were likely hunted to near-extinction in their native habitats across Central and West Africa.
The arrest of Shamsideen Abubakar, coming after years of patient intelligence work, marks a significant victory in Nigeria’s fight against illegal wildlife trafficking. It demonstrates that even fugitives who believe they have outrun the law can eventually be brought to justice. However, with global demand for pangolin scales showing no sign of abating, the broader battle is far from over. For every trafficker arrested, others remain in the shadows, waiting for the next opportunity to exploit one of the world’s most endangered creatures.
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