FG Transfers Custody of over 600 Seized Snakes, Millipedes to UniUyo
Okon Bassey
The federal government has handed over to the authorities of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, the custody of over 600 reptiles, including snakes, millipedes and other animals seized by Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Calabar, Cross River State recently.
THISDAY gathered that presently, a foremost Herpetologist of the university, Dr. Edem Eniang, is totally in charge of the seized consignments of the reptiles.
Eniang is a foremost Herpetologist and heads the Wildlife and Ecology Unit of the Department of Forestry and Natural Environmental Management of the institution.
The reptiles, stored in three boxes, were reportedly ferried from the Republic of Cameroun to the agent in Lagos, for onward transmission to the final destination in Luxembourg in Europe, but the consignments were intercepted by operatives of the NCS in Calabar.
Yesterday, Eniang, a former employee of the Cross River National Park, led other 10 reptiles’ specialists for the first examination and analysis of the samples of the reptiles.
Eniang who was not afraid of the intimidating reptiles during the analysis session, told journalists that the federal government decided to allow him the custody of the consignments of the reptiles because of his expertise in reptiles’ management.
“I was chosen to keep the animals because I specialise in reptiles and did my PhD on snakes and I am a global authority on snakes.
“The federal government know that I am an expert in snakes and reptiles,” he further stated, stressing that he was given the task of analysing the true state and conditions of the animals before making recommendations to the federal government.
“I am to analyse and report to the federal government on the true status of the animals,” he declared.
According to him, the seized snakes were taken from South-West Cameroon, which shares the same contiguous zone with South-eastern part of Nigeria.
Being an authority in snake and other reptiles management, he said he was very familiar with the environment hence the federal government did not make any mistake or have to look far to ascertain the right man to preserve the seized reptiles.