Khadijat Saidu, Birnin Kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi State Command, Wednesday, said 1,390 sacks of donkey meat with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N42,534,400 were impounded and destroyed.
According to the Area Comptroller of the Command, Comptroller Joseph Attah, said a trailer with registration number: ARG 323 XA, conveying the contraband goods was intercepted on March 5, 2022, the driver and one other occupant of the vehicle were immediately arrested and brought to the Command’s Headquarters with the exhibit for further investigation.
Physical examination of the truck revealed that it was loaded with 1,390 sacks of donkey meat with a Duty Paid Value of 42,534,400 Naira.
Attah also said Nigeria is a signatory to International Convention on Wildlife Fauna and Flora and NCS has the responsibility to enforce the law and help protect such animals.
He said as a responsible member of the international community, “we cannot allow our nation to be used as a conduit pipe for illegal trade on wildlife. Poaching donkeys is illegal and we urge all those in this illegality to stop it as we are determined to make it unprofitable including the possibility of sending them to jail.
“Kebbi Area Command remains committed to fighting all forms of smuggling and other illicit trade such as this, with improved logistic and robust support of the CGC and members of the management team,” he said
He added that illegal trade on endangered species such as donkeys is a contravention of section 63 (b) of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C.45 LFN 2004.
Meanwhile, representatives of the Nigerian Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) were all witnesses to the destruction of the seized Donkey meat.
