By Iroyin Yoruba Television
The Nigeria Customs Service has repatriated a rescued female baby gorilla named Bili to the Republic of Congo after more than three years of rehabilitation in Nigeria.
The return, carried out between September 22 and 28, 2026, marked the first international full-cycle wildlife operation conducted by the Nigeria Customs Service, covering the interception of a trafficked animal, its rescue and rehabilitation, and its eventual return to its country of origin.
Bili was transported from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.
BILI WAS RESCUED IN 2023
Customs officers rescued Bili in August 2023 during an enforcement operation targeting wildlife trafficking.
After she was rescued, the gorilla was transferred to the Pandrillus Foundation in Calabar, where she received rehabilitation and care.
At the time of the rescue, authorities needed to establish the animal's origin before determining where she should ultimately be returned.
A DNA test was subsequently conducted and confirmed that Bili originated from the Republic of Congo.
The result enabled Nigerian authorities and their conservation partners to begin arrangements for her return.
JOURNEY FROM CALABAR TO CONGO
Following confirmation of Bili's origin, the young gorilla was transported from Calabar to Lagos.
She was then flown to the Republic of Congo by DHL at no cost to the Nigeria Customs Service.
A caregiver and a veterinary doctor accompanied Bili during the journey to ensure that she received appropriate care throughout the transfer.
The animal was ultimately returned to the Réserve Naturelle de Tchimpounga in Pointe-Noire, where she can continue her rehabilitation in an environment appropriate to her species and country of origin.
CUSTOMS DESCRIBES OPERATION AS A FIRST
The Nigeria Customs Service described the operation as its first international full-cycle wildlife enforcement exercise.
The process involved several stages rather than simply transferring a confiscated animal across a border.
Customs officers first intercepted the animal during a wildlife-trafficking operation.
Bili was then placed under professional rehabilitation while authorities worked to establish her origin.
After the DNA test confirmed that she came from Congo, the service coordinated her repatriation with conservation organisations and government authorities.
The operation therefore required cooperation between law-enforcement agencies, wildlife specialists, veterinarians, conservation organisations and international partners.
PROTECTION UNDER INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE RULES
The repatriation was supported by Nigeria's CITES Management Authority under the Federal Ministry of Environment.
CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement that regulates the movement and trade of protected wildlife.
Gorillas are listed under Appendix I of CITES, which provides the highest level of protection for species threatened with extinction.
The listing places strict controls on international commercial trade involving the species.
The return of Bili to Congo therefore forms part of Nigeria's obligations under the international wildlife-protection framework.
NIGERIA STEPS UP WILDLIFE ENFORCEMENT
The repatriation comes as the Nigeria Customs Service reports increased enforcement against illegal wildlife trafficking.
Between January and September 2026, the service said its Special Wildlife Office and Customs Area Commands recorded 22 wildlife seizures, rescued 699 live animals and arrested 11 suspects.
The seizures involved different protected species and wildlife products.
Among the items intercepted were 220 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, 48 elephant tusks and 219.05 kilogrammes of worked ivory.
Customs also reported the rescue of live animals including pangolins, primates, lion cubs, hyenas, crowned cranes, tortoises, gorillas and chimpanzees.
MORE ANIMALS INTERCEPTED IN SEPTEMBER
The enforcement campaign continued during September.
Customs said officers intercepted 440 African mud turtles and 90 ostrich chicks during the month as part of operations against illegal wildlife trafficking.
The seizures were recorded across several parts of Nigeria, including Ogun, Kano, Borno and Yobe, Calabar, Taraba, Kaduna and Lagos.
The geographic spread of the operations reflects the challenge of preventing Nigeria from being used as a route for the movement of protected wildlife.
Wildlife traffickers can move animals and animal products through multiple locations before attempting to transport them across international borders.
IMPORTANCE OF REHABILITATION
Bili's case also demonstrates that rescuing trafficked animals is only one part of wildlife protection.
Once an animal has been removed from an illegal trafficking operation, it may require specialist veterinary treatment, rehabilitation and long-term care.
Young animals can be particularly vulnerable because they may have been separated from their mothers or exposed to stressful conditions during trafficking.
Bili's more than three years at the Pandrillus Foundation provided time for rehabilitation before authorities arranged her return.
The involvement of a caregiver and veterinarian during the final journey was also intended to ensure that her welfare was protected during the international transfer.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
The successful repatriation required cooperation between Nigerian authorities and organisations in Nigeria and Congo.
The Nigeria Customs Service acknowledged the contributions of the Pandrillus Foundation, DHL, Focused Conservation, the Aspinall Wildlife Trust, Nigeria's CITES authorities and the Government of the Republic of Congo.
Such cooperation is important because wildlife trafficking frequently crosses national borders.
An animal intercepted in one country may have originated in another country and may need to be returned through an internationally coordinated process.
BEYOND REVENUE COLLECTION
The operation also highlights the wider responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Although Customs is widely associated with collecting duties on imported and exported goods, the agency also has responsibilities involving border security and enforcement against prohibited trade.
Wildlife trafficking falls within that broader enforcement role.
The service said its work in this area is intended to disrupt trafficking networks and prevent Nigeria from being used as a transit route for endangered animals and wildlife products.
BILI'S RETURN MARKS A NEW MILESTONE
Bili's return to Congo brings to an end more than three years of rehabilitation in Nigeria.
Her case began with a wildlife-trafficking interception in 2023 and ended with an international repatriation operation in September 2026.
The Nigeria Customs Service says the operation demonstrates the value of combining enforcement, rehabilitation, scientific identification and international cooperation.
The wider enforcement figures also show that wildlife trafficking remains an active concern, with hundreds of live animals rescued and significant quantities of protected wildlife products intercepted during the first nine months of the year.
For Bili, however, the latest development represents a return to her country of origin after years in Nigeria.
Her safe repatriation provides an example of how rescued wildlife can move from interception and rehabilitation to eventual return through coordinated national and international action.