By Peace Udugba — The Daily Torch Media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has repatriated Bili, a rescued female baby gorilla, from Nigeria to the Republic of Congo, marking what the Service described as its first international full-cycle wildlife operation.
The repatriation took place between September 22 and 28, 2026, following Bili’s rescue, rehabilitation and subsequent confirmation of her country of origin through DNA testing.
The operation was coordinated by the Customs Special Wildlife Office (SWO) under the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), with Bili transferred from the Pandrillus Foundation’s rehabilitation facility in Calabar to Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, before being airlifted to the Republic of Congo.
The gorilla was eventually taken to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Département du Kouilou, Pointe-Noire, where she is expected to continue her rehabilitation.
Bili was rescued by Customs officers in August 2023 during an operation targeting wildlife trafficking and was subsequently placed under the care of the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar.
A DNA test later established that Bili originated from the Republic of Congo, paving the way for her repatriation.
According to the NCS, DHL facilitated the air transportation of Bili to Congo at no cost, with a caregiver and veterinary doctor accompanying her during the journey.
The repatriation was also supported by the CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment. The gorilla is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which provides the highest level of protection for species threatened with extinction.
The Customs Service said the operation demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to international wildlife protection obligations and efforts to disrupt wildlife trafficking networks.
The repatriation also comes amid intensified wildlife enforcement operations by the NCS.
Between January and September 2026, the Special Wildlife Office and various Customs Area Commands recorded 22 wildlife seizures, rescued 699 live animals and arrested 11 suspects, according to the Service.
Among the items seized were 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory.
The NCS said enforcement operations were carried out in several locations, including Ogun, Kano, Borno/Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos.
The rescued animals included pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees. In September alone, Customs officers also intercepted 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks.
The Service said the operations had resulted in several arrests linked to wildlife trafficking, stressing that its responsibilities extend beyond revenue collection to include national security and environmental protection.
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.
The NCS urged members of the public to report information concerning illegal wildlife trafficking to the nearest Customs formation.
The repatriation of Bili follows her rescue in Nigeria in 2023 and subsequent rehabilitation at the Pandrillus Foundation’s Drill Ranch in Calabar. Independent conservation reporting has also documented her rescue and rehabilitation history.
