The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has announced that the Federal Government is deeply concerned over the illegal killing of elephants and other wildlife species across the country, News About Nigeria reports.
Speaking at a briefing in Abuja on Friday, the minister specifically condemned a recent incident in Borno State where a video surfaced on social media showing the shooting of an elephant by a soldier.
The video, shared by Musa Gwary, a self-described filmmaker on social media, captured the soldier firing at the elephant, encouraged by voices in the background.
A man in traditional attire spoke in Hausa, explaining that elephants were destroying the area.
Expressing the government’s stance on such actions, Minister Salako stated, “We are deeply concerned about the recent illegal killings of elephants and other wildlife species across the country—the killing of two elephants by the military in Kala Balge, Borno, at the instance of a local government chairman.”
He also mentioned the killing of another elephant by a professor from the University of Ibadan and the deaths of two booted eagles in Kebbi and Sokoto States.
Highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to international conventions, particularly the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the minister emphasized that elephants and eagles are classified as endangered species.
He said that the killing, hunting, capturing, possessing, or trading of such species are offenses liable to prosecution under CITE
Elephants and eagles are considered endangered species, the minister noted, adding that Nigeria adheres to international conventions, especially the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
He announced that attempts were being made to recover the eagles’ transmitters and send them back to researchers in Europe.
The minister also vowed that the ministry would not relent in its efforts to educate the public and security forces about non-lethal conflict resolution techniques and wildlife protection.
