Security: 646 Arrests Made Across National Parks, Says Conservator General

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Following federal government’s sustained efforts to keep the national parks safe and free of criminals, the National Park Service, has said it had made 646 arrests across the country in 2023.
Addressing the media, weekend, on successes made in 2023, the Conservator General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Goni, gave the breakdown of the arrest to include 44 hunters, 222 grazers, 131 loggers, and 249 others.

He noted that the arrests were made in all the national parks, with Gashaka-Gumti recording the highest number.
In relation to banditry incidents, he said 37 suspects were apprehended in connection with mining/banditry in Old Oyo National Park, while Kainji Lake National Park arrested three suspected bandits and neutralised five others.
Goni added that four victims were rescued during these operations conducted within the year, and various items such as motorcycles, phones, and machetes were recovered.

He also revealed that a total of 646 cases were prosecuted in the National Parks during the year, with breakdown of the prosecution cases showing 161 convictions, 215 fines, 119 warnings and discharges, and 151 cases pending. Cross River and Gashaka-Gumti National Parks recorded the highest number of convictions.

He further disclosed that total revenue generated for the Service from January to date stood at N83.2 million, noting that the revenue was derived from various sources, including ecotourism, compensation, and others.
Noting that the revenue had been remitted to the federal government’s coffers, Goni said within the year, the National Park Service signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with different organisations, with the MoUs aimed at supporting and strengthening the capacities of the National Park Service in addressing conservation challenges.

He however, disclosed that some of the  MOUs were signed included the Safe Nature and Humanity Club, Sayari Dunia Sustainable Tourism Foundation, West African Conservation Network, and Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Co. Ltd.

He noted that the MoUs have had a significant impact on park protection, capacity building, and support zone development.
He said within the year, the National Park Service collaborated with relevant stakeholders to combat wildlife trafficking in Nigeria, revealing that, “Seizures have been made, and efforts have been made to release live animals back into the wild.

“The Nigerian Customs Service recently confiscated 81 parrots among other bird species, galagos (bush babies) which were handed over to the National Park Service for rehabilitation and reintroduction to the wild.

“Additionally, the National Park Service has developed a policy document on combating wildlife and forest crime in Nigeria in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime.”