A viral video on X (formerly Twitter) captured a soldier ruthlessly gunning down two elephants in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, sparking public outcry. This incident has prompted the Nigerian government, led by Environment Minister Iziaq Salako, to launch a comprehensive investigation into the recent surge in wildlife killings.
“The brutal killings of these wildlife not only reflect a blatant disregard for the importance of wildlife preservation but also highlight the urgent need for enhanced awareness,” emphasized Salako. The inquiry, he stated, will extend to cover other recent incidents, including the killings of two booted eagles in Kebbi and Sokoto states, and the alleged involvement of a university professor in the death of another elephant in Ibadan.
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Nigeria’s once-thriving elephant population has drastically declined over the past three decades, plummeting from an estimated 1,500 to less than 400 due to habitat loss, poaching for ivory, and human-elephant conflict. Despite being a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Nigeria remains a major hub for illegal wildlife trafficking.
Bosede Olukanni, head of CITES and wildlife management at Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment, stressed that these recent killings are just a glimpse of the broader challenges faced by wildlife in the country.