FG Hands Over 600 Snakes, Spiders, Millipedes, Others To UNIUYO

Three weeks after The WHISTLER reported the interception of 140 live snakes and other animals numbering 600 at the Nigerian border in Calabar, the Federal Government has handed the seized items to the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

The animals, valued at N6.9 million, were intercepted on July 24, by the Nigerian Customs at the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) jetty in the state.

Mr Ibrahim Jibril, the Minister of State for Environment, disclosed this while handing over the animals to the university.

“The Federal Government commends the officers and men of Nigeria Customs Service and other agencies involved in the interception of these animals.

“We thank them for portraying the country in a good light because everything we hear about Nigeria is negative.

“I must commend the Nigeria Customs Service for doing something positive for our country,’’ said Jibril.

The items were received on behalf of the University by Dr Edem Eniang of the Department Forestry and National Services.

Eniang revealed that the animals were originally being ferried from Cameroon to Luxemburg, but that “the people decided to pass through Calabar because probably, it was more convenient for them to travel through Calabar,” he said.

“They are all poisonous snakes and they are very valuable because their venom could be used for many kinds of medicine, including anti-venoms.

“The poisonous snakes in this region are very valuable and we will examine them, especially the ones that are still alive, we will rehabilitate them and make recommendations to the government,” he said.