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Customs intercept pangolin scales worth N3.9bn in Kebbi
Customs intercept pangolin scales worth N3.9bn in Kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “B” Command, Kaduna, announced on Wednesday that its operatives had intercepted pangolin scales worth N3.9 billion (Duty Paid Value).
The FOU Zone B Command covers Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kogi, Kwara states, and the Federal Capital Territory. On May 24, acting on intelligence, operatives raided a suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State, seizing 445.45kg of pangolin scales.
Comptroller Ahmadu Bello-Shuaibu revealed that one person was arrested in connection with the smuggled scales, valued at N3,955,596,000 on the international market.
He attributed the success of the operation to robust intelligence sharing between the Customs Service and the Wild Life Office, as well as the determination of operatives.
Bello-Shuaibu alleged that those involved in illegal wildlife trafficking use it as a cover for money laundering to procure drugs, arms, and other illegal goods.”
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He said, “Our operatives have upped the ante in the combat against smuggling of protected species and successfully intercepted a consignment of Pangolin scale and its derivatives within the Kebbi State area of the Zone.
“Acting on actionable intelligence, the operatives stormed a hideout known as (Slaughter house) in the suburb of Zuru Town in Kebbi State on Friday, May 24, 2024 at about 1600hrs.
“The team discovered and evacuated sacks of pangolin scales which were transported to the HQ of FOU Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna. After careful examination and counting, the pangolin scales weighed 445.45kg.
He said the value of the seizure at the international market was worth Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety-Six Thousand Naira (N3,955,596,000.00) only.
“Let me once again explain that the pangolin species is one of the endangered species that is protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flaura.
“It is instructive that Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES Convention and all forms of trading in this species are clearly illegal,” he added.
The comptroller added that the service was more ever than before determined to partner CITES to forestall the pangolin and other endangered species from going into extinction.
Customs intercept pangolin scales worth N3.9bn in Kebbi
metro
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
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