By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has repatriated Bili, a rescued female baby gorilla, to the Republic of Congo, completing what it described as its first full-cycle international wildlife operation involving interception, rescue, rehabilitation and the safe return of a trafficked animal.
According to an official statement signed by Abdullahi Maiwada, Deputy Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller-General of Customs, the repatriation was carried out from September 22 to 28, 2026, through the Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit.
Bili was transported from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, following a DNA test which confirmed that the gorilla originated from the country.
The gorilla was rescued by Customs officers in August 2023 during an enforcement operation against wildlife trafficking and subsequently placed under the care of the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar for rehabilitation.
Following confirmation of its origin, arrangements were made to transport Bili from Calabar to Lagos before she was airlifted to Congo by DHL at no cost. The journey was accompanied by a caregiver and a veterinary doctor to ensure her welfare throughout the repatriation process.
The NCS said the operation was conducted in line with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), with support from the CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Bili, being a gorilla, is listed under Appendix I of CITES, which affords the species the highest level of international protection due to the threat of extinction.
The Service said the successful repatriation underscored Nigeria’s commitment, as a signatory to CITES, to enforcing international wildlife protection obligations and strengthening efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking.
The NCS also disclosed that its intensified wildlife enforcement operations had resulted in 22 wildlife seizures, the rescue of 699 live animals and the arrest of 11 suspects between January and September 2026.
Among the seized items were 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory, with enforcement operations conducted across Ogun, Kano, Borno/Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos, among other locations.
The Service said its interventions during the period also led to the rescue of pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as the interception of 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks in September.
The Customs Service said the operations also resulted in arrests linked to wildlife trafficking, reflecting its continued efforts to disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the management of the Service acknowledged the support of the Pandrillus Foundation, DHL, Focused Conservation, the Aspinall Wildlife Trust, the CITES Desk of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Government of the Republic of Congo in ensuring Bili’s safe return.
The Service reaffirmed that its mandate extends beyond revenue generation to include national security and environmental protection, while urging members of the public to provide information on suspected illegal wildlife trafficking to the nearest Customs formation.
