ABUJA: The Nigeria Customs Service, Sokoto Area Command, has intercepted two elephant tusks worth N14.4 million. The tusks, weighing about 65kg, were in a Toyota Carina car with registration number BRK 53 MF which was intercepted along Nigeria-Benin border near Lolo area in Kebbi State.
The Area Comptroller in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Nasir Ahmad, said, “The trade in elephant tusks constitute part of the illegal Ivory trade that has led to the endangerment of Elephant species in Africa,” he stated. “Presently, the price of raw Ivory in the international market is estimated to cost $730.00 per kg which brings the duty paid value (DPV) of the seizure to a total of N14, 472,250.00,” he added in a statement signed by the spokesman of the command, ASC I, Magaji Mailafiya Ahmed said investigation was ongoing to further unravel the source of this illegal trade. He commended the officers and men manning Lolo border station for the arrest. He urged them to be more vigilant especially within this era of mass proliferation of small arms and light weapons across Africa and other illegal trades.
