The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, Prof. Innocent Barikor, says the recent handover of pangolins in Kano and Akwa Ibom reflects growing public awareness of wildlife conservation in Nigeria.
In Akwa Ibom, hunter Imo Etim accidentally trapped two pangolins while targeting grasscutters. Instead of selling them, he contacted Prof. Olajumoke Morenikeji of the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria, handing the animals over to NESREA officials led by State Coordinator Mfon Nkanang.
One pangolin later died, and both were transferred to the National Park Service.
Meanwhile, the Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigerian Customs Service handed over one dead and two live pangolins suspected to be part of illegal wildlife trade.
NESREA officials delivered them to Kano Zoological Garden, received by Hajiya Hafsah Bello Adam of the Kano State Zoological and Wildlife Management Agency.
Prof. Barikor praised both incidents, saying, “These are positive indicators of awareness on wildlife conservation.
In Akwa Ibom, the hunter didn’t look for buyers; he approached the right authorities. That is a big win for conservation efforts in Nigeria.”
He also credited Kano’s operation to inter-agency collaboration and warned that wildlife trafficking, online or offline, violates the Endangered Species Act and NESREA regulations.
“We will take action against offenders,” he said, urging the public to report wildlife crimes to help protect endangered species.
