Less than 24 hours after denying that the
Chad-bound arms-laden cargo aircraft arrested
in Kano has links with its country, the
Russian government has now admitted that it
is indeed Russian.
It however said the military hardware aboard
the plane belongs to France.
The Eastern European country had said
through its embassy in Nigeria on Saturday
night that the plane wasn’t Russian and that
it had no link with that country.
“According to the information of the Embassy,
the detained in Kano plane, allegedly carrying
military hardware on board, is not Russian,”
the Russia Embassy had tweeted via its
handle @RusEmbNigeria.
But in a fresh round of tweets on Sunday
afternoon, the embassy said the plane is
indeed a Russian one hired by the French
government to convey military hardware for
its peacekeeping force in the Central African
Republic.
The statement said, “Military equipment on
board aircraft in Kano enroute CAR (Central
African Republic) via Chad, allegedly owned
by the French peacekeeping mission.
“The detained in Kano Russian plane
chartered by the French peacekeeping
mission in Chad and transporting its property.
“The Embassy is taking all measures to ensure
the departure of the detained in Kano Russian
plane with the French military equipment on
board.”
The tweets were in Russian but translated to
English by PREMIUM TIMES.
Media reports had indicated Saturday that the
aircraft was Russian.
The plane, loaded with arms, bulletproof vests
and a chopper, is believed to be on its way to
neighbouring Chad, when Nigerian authorities
intercepted it.
Although it confirmed the aircraft was being
held and investigated, the military did not say
where it originated from and where it was
headed.
“An Antonov Cargo aircraft carrying some
military hardware was arrested at the Mallam
Aminu Kano International Airport in the early
hours of Saturday 6th Dec. 2014,” the military
tweeted via its handle [@DefenceInfoNG].
“Investigation is ongoing to determine the
content and origin of the aircraft. Further
details will be made as soon as the
investigation is completed.”
The Nigerian government is yet to provide any
update on the plane since Saturday when the
military issued the above two-paragraph
statement.
Security operatives at the Kano Airport had
seized the plane when it landed at the facility
at about 2a.m. Saturday as a result of
technical problems.
Crew members of the airplane were
immediately detained while investigations
continued, officials said.
“Security has since been beefed up at the
airport in order to ensure proper
investigation,” the officials added.
The General Manager, Communications,
Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN,
Yakubu Datti, confirmed the seizure of the
plane, raising more concerns about the
cargo’s purpose.
He said the pilot sought permission to land at
the airport after the plane developed
problems.
“The plane had a technical problem and the
pilot sought (for) permission to land at the
airport’’, he said.
Mr. Datti said security agencies had since
commenced investigation into the matter.
Security sources told PREMIUM TIMES the
plane was travelling to N’djamena, the capital
of Chad.
PR Nigeria, an agency known for distributing
press statements on behalf of the Nigerian
military, later circulated a statement saying
the aircraft contained “a chopper tucked in
it”.
“… Intense investigation is ongoing including
using diplomatic means to unravel the
mission of the aircraft, its origin and
destination,” the statement said.
This is the third time since 2009 that planes
loaded with arms would be arrested in Kano,
our correspondent says.
The detained planes were later released after
investigations.
The destination of the latest aircraft has
however raised concerns amid increasing
worries in Nigeria over Chad’s alleged role in
the Boko Haram insurgency plaguing
Nigeria’s northeast.
Airport officials in Kano told PREMIUM TIMES
a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu
Sheriff, visited and inspected the plane late
Saturday night.
The former former governor – an ally of both
the Chadian and Nigerian presidents – is
believed to be lobbying for the release of the
plane.
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