NESREA to Honour Lagos Baale After Dramatic Rescue of Endangered Sea Turtle

NESREA to Honour Lagos Baale After Dramatic Rescue of Endangered Sea Turtle

The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) is set to honour the Baale of Okun Igando in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Chief Semiu Waliu Jejelaiye, after he intervened to save a large sea turtle from being killed by fishermen.

The development followed the rescue of the marine animal after it became entangled in a fishing net along the coastline of the community.

The fishermen reportedly initially believed they had caught a large fish. However, the situation changed after the Baale intervened and stopped attempts to kill or sell the animal.

Chief Jejelaiye urged the fishermen and other residents to release the turtle, while explaining the importance of protecting endangered and threatened marine species.

The fishermen, with the assistance of other community members, carefully freed the animal from the net and returned it alive to the Atlantic Ocean.

The rescue attracted widespread attention after footage of the incident circulated online, with many Nigerians commending the community for choosing to protect the animal rather than kill it.

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NESREA has subsequently commended the Baale and the local fishing community for their intervention, describing the rescue as an example of grassroots environmental conservation.

The agency is expected to issue a Letter of Commendation to Chief Jejelaiye in recognition of his role in preventing harm to the marine animal and promoting wildlife protection within the community.

The incident has also renewed attention to the challenges facing sea turtles in Nigeria, particularly along the Lagos coastline.

Sea turtles are exposed to several threats, including accidental capture in fishing nets, destruction of nesting habitats, pollution, illegal hunting and human consumption.

Conservation efforts in the Ibeju-Lekki area have previously focused on educating fishing communities about the importance of protecting sea turtles and finding ways to reduce conflicts between conservation and fishing activities.

The latest rescue also highlights the role that traditional rulers and coastal communities can play in protecting endangered wildlife.

NESREA, which is responsible for enforcing Nigeria’s environmental laws and regulations, has continued to advocate stronger community participation in biodiversity conservation and environmental protection.

The rescued turtle was identified in reports as a leatherback sea turtle, one of the largest living turtle species. Leatherback turtles face serious threats globally from fishing gear, habitat loss, pollution and other human activities.

The successful release of the turtle back into the ocean has been described as a positive example of what can happen when local communities respond quickly to protect threatened wildlife.

The development is also expected to strengthen calls for greater awareness among fishermen and residents of Nigeria’s coastal communities on how to safely handle marine animals accidentally caught in fishing nets.

For Okun Igando, the intervention by the Baale has turned what could have been the death of a rare marine animal into a notable wildlife conservation success story.

NESREA to Honour Lagos Baale After Dramatic Rescue of Endangered Sea Turtle