Following the interception of a
Russian-made cargo aircraft carrying arms by security operatives at the
Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano state on Saturday, the
Russian embassy in Abuja has made a move to clear the air, stating that
though the intercepted plane is Russian, the arms on board did not
belong to Russia.
According to a statement released yesterday by the embassy, the plane, with registration number RA H20 38, was carrying the cargo of the French peacekeeping mission in Chad routing from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic to N’Djamena when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the Kano International Airport.
The statement read, “On Saturday, December, 6th 2014, the Russian plane with the cargo of the French peacekeeping mission in Chad on board routing from Bangui to N`Djamena made an emergency landing in the Kano International Airport. At present time the Russian and French Embassies in Abuja are taking measures to provide immediate take-off of the plane. Nigerian authorities demonstrated full understanding of the situation and have no claims to the cargo and to the crew members.”
The embassy likened the situation to the instance when a plane belonging to Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, which he had leased to another party was seized by South African authorities with a stack of $10 million in cash meant for arms purchase.
Oritsejafor’s church had confirmed the ownership of the plane and was quoted to have said the pastor has a “residual interest” in Eagle Air, a company that manages the aircraft.
LEADERSHIP Sunday had earlier reported that the aircraft, which was under the command of a crew of five Ukrainians, was said to be heading for Ndjamena, the Chadian capital, but landed at the Kano airport at exactly 10:00am.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that relevant security agencies are investigating the seized Antonov cargo aircraft carrying some military hardware at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
This was disclosed by the DHQ yesterday through a social media- Tweeter.
It said, “Investigation is ongoing to determine the content and origin of the aircraft. Further details will be made as soon as the investigation is completed.”
Competent sources at the airport informed LEADERSHIP Sunday that the aircraft was forced to land due to fuel shortage, which in the aviation parlance is referred to as “technical landing”.
The report also said that checks conducted by security operatives on the contents in the cargo aircraft revealed that it was stocked with two helicopters, rocket launchers, long boxes filled with rifles, and a cache of firearms.
Other contents found in the impounded aircraft included an off-road Ford vehicle, and Bazooka machine guns, among other equipment.
The source further revealed that upon interrogation, the 5-man crew, who are believed to be of Ukrainian origin, informed the operatives that they took off from Bangui, the Central African Republic, en route Ndjamena, the Chadian capital.
This is not the first time a foreign plane is being intercepted in the Kano International Airport. It would be recalled that in June 2012, a Ukrainian aircraft was intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with arms onboard, but was cleared to proceed to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
http://leadership.ng/news/393585/intercepted-aircraft-belongs-us-russia
According to a statement released yesterday by the embassy, the plane, with registration number RA H20 38, was carrying the cargo of the French peacekeeping mission in Chad routing from Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic to N’Djamena when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the Kano International Airport.
The statement read, “On Saturday, December, 6th 2014, the Russian plane with the cargo of the French peacekeeping mission in Chad on board routing from Bangui to N`Djamena made an emergency landing in the Kano International Airport. At present time the Russian and French Embassies in Abuja are taking measures to provide immediate take-off of the plane. Nigerian authorities demonstrated full understanding of the situation and have no claims to the cargo and to the crew members.”
The embassy likened the situation to the instance when a plane belonging to Ayo Oritsejafor, the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, which he had leased to another party was seized by South African authorities with a stack of $10 million in cash meant for arms purchase.
Oritsejafor’s church had confirmed the ownership of the plane and was quoted to have said the pastor has a “residual interest” in Eagle Air, a company that manages the aircraft.
LEADERSHIP Sunday had earlier reported that the aircraft, which was under the command of a crew of five Ukrainians, was said to be heading for Ndjamena, the Chadian capital, but landed at the Kano airport at exactly 10:00am.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that relevant security agencies are investigating the seized Antonov cargo aircraft carrying some military hardware at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
This was disclosed by the DHQ yesterday through a social media- Tweeter.
It said, “Investigation is ongoing to determine the content and origin of the aircraft. Further details will be made as soon as the investigation is completed.”
Competent sources at the airport informed LEADERSHIP Sunday that the aircraft was forced to land due to fuel shortage, which in the aviation parlance is referred to as “technical landing”.
The report also said that checks conducted by security operatives on the contents in the cargo aircraft revealed that it was stocked with two helicopters, rocket launchers, long boxes filled with rifles, and a cache of firearms.
Other contents found in the impounded aircraft included an off-road Ford vehicle, and Bazooka machine guns, among other equipment.
The source further revealed that upon interrogation, the 5-man crew, who are believed to be of Ukrainian origin, informed the operatives that they took off from Bangui, the Central African Republic, en route Ndjamena, the Chadian capital.
This is not the first time a foreign plane is being intercepted in the Kano International Airport. It would be recalled that in June 2012, a Ukrainian aircraft was intercepted at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport with arms onboard, but was cleared to proceed to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.
http://leadership.ng/news/393585/intercepted-aircraft-belongs-us-russia
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