From Kabiru Dogondaji, Birnin kebbi
The Nigeria Customs Service kebbi state command has seized and burried a fried donkey meat valued at N42 million.
Parading the two suspects at the command’s headquarters Birnin kebbi, the state area Comptroller of Customs Joseph Attah, said the men of the command while on routine patrol intercepted a trailer loaded with fried dry donkey meat.
He said, “The trailer with registration number No. ARG 323 XA was intercepted along Rara-Koko road in Koko/Besse local government of kebbi state”.
Attah added that the driver and one other occupant alongside the vehicle were arrested and brought to the headquarters.
He further explained that poaching of endangered species such as donkeys was a contravention of section 63 (b) of CEMA 45 LFN 2004.
” Nigeria is a signatory to international convention on wildlife, therefore we have to protect the integrity of the nation”.
“As a responsible member of the international community, we can not allow our country to be used as conduit pipe for illegal trade on wildlife” Attah added.
He warned that poaching of donkeys was illegal and urged all those in the illegal trade to desist from such act as the Nigeria Customs was prepared to making such trade very unprofitable including jail terms that awaits erring perpetrators.
He maintained that the Kebbi state command remained committed to fighting all forms of smuggling and other illicit trade of any kind.
