The Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun I Command, has reportedly intercepted and rescued three live pangolins believed to have been abandoned by suspected wildlife traffickers at Abeokuta waterside.

The development was disclosed by the command's Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Chado Zakari, in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the Customs account, officers acting on intelligence intercepted the animals during a patrol operation after suspected traffickers reportedly fled when they noticed the presence of the operatives.

The pangolins were allegedly concealed inside sacks and restrained in wire-mesh cages, a method the authorities said was used to conceal the animals during their movement.

The rescued animals were subsequently handed over to Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation for rehabilitation and eventual release into a suitable protected habitat.

The Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Abdulhamid Ibrahim, said the operation underscored the need for continued enforcement against the illegal wildlife trade.

Pangolins are protected wildlife in Nigeria, and the country has previously recorded seizures of live pangolins in Ogun State. In January 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service's Federal Operations Unit Zone A reported intercepting four live pangolins along the Ajilete creeks in Ogun State and handing them over to wildlife conservation authorities.

Customs has also reported other pangolin seizures by its Ogun operations, reflecting continued efforts to stop the movement of protected wildlife through the state's waterways and border corridors.

Ibrahim warned people involved in the illegal wildlife trade to desist, stressing that the Customs Service would continue working with conservation groups and other relevant agencies to combat wildlife trafficking.

He also praised the officers involved in the latest operation, saying their actions demonstrated the importance of intelligence-led enforcement and collaboration in protecting Nigeria's biodiversity.

Green Fingers Wildlife Conservation representative Isaac Itue Ime reportedly commended the Customs officers and assured the agency that the organisation would provide care for the rescued animals.

The latest interception highlights the continuing threat posed by the illegal trade in pangolins, which are among the world's most heavily trafficked mammals. Nigeria's wildlife authorities and enforcement agencies have increasingly worked with conservation organisations to rescue seized animals and return them to appropriate habitats.

The three pangolins will now remain under the care of wildlife conservation specialists while arrangements are made for their rehabilitation and eventual release.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia