Abim Isafiade
Regional Manager for West and Central Africa (WJC Investigations)
Abim Isafiade is a highly accomplished law enforcement professional with over 35 years of experience in customs and counter-wildlife crime enforcement. A retired Comptroller of Customs and a World Customs Organization-accredited expert, she has led groundbreaking initiatives to combat wildlife trafficking, strengthen intelligence-led enforcement, and build capacity within law enforcement agencies across West and Central Africa.
As the former Team Manager of the Nigeria Customs Service Special Wildlife Office, Ms Isafiade played a pivotal role in establishing Nigeria’s first dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit. Her leadership was instrumental in coordinating operations that led to over 60 arrests and the first successful wildlife crime prosecutions in Nigeria. She also spearheaded the development of the Wildlife Trafficking/Illegal Wildlife Trade Enforcement training curriculum, training over 5,000 officers to enhance frontline enforcement capabilities.
Her expertise extends to international intelligence-sharing, having served as the National Contact Point for the World Customs Organization’s Regional Intelligence Liaison Office for West Africa.
In pursuit of further knowledge, Ms Isafiade is a Professional Doctorate student in Security Risk Management at the University of Portsmouth, with a concentration in combatting wildlife crime. Her expertise, dedication, and strategic leadership make her a formidable force in the fight against wildlife trafficking.
