A group, National Ecosystem Advocates of Nigeria (NEAN) has the raised the alarm that Chinese donkey traders are indiscriminately killing and exporting donkeys in an unscrupulous manner.
They called for Federal government’s intervention before donkeys go into extinction in Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Ben Iguabor and the National Secretary, Silas Modaccai in Abuja, on Friday, the group expressed concern that if this ugly was not halted, donkeys would no longer be found in Nigeria.
They alleged that some Chinese enter the country in the guise of being construction workers only to turn around and operate as marauders.
They poach and export our donkeys illegally to China with the active connivance of some unpatriotic Nigerians.
The group also expressed worry that forest guards from the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Services (NAQS) are being attacked, harassed, and maimed by these Chinese and their unpatriotic Nigerian collaborators.
The group said: “Our observations reveal that some Chinese who enter the country on the guise of construction workers fraudulently turn some of our nation’s forests and bushes into a haven for the destruction of our flora and fauna for their selfish material and economic gains.
“Unfortunately, these illegal Chinese find easy collaborators among some unpatriotic Nigerians who aid them in perpetuating the violation of animals and timbers in our forests and bushes.
“In particular, illegal buying and slaughtering of donkeys in parts of the Southeast and Northwest for export has continued to thrive among these unscrupulous Chinese and their local collaborators.
“We understand that donkey meat, as well as their hides and skins are very highly sought after in China, which is unable to meet its local needs, hence the pressure and resort to illegal importation from countries like Nigeria”.
