The Russian government throught its embassy in Nigeria has denied the weapons-laden aircraft arrested at Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on Saturday has any link with Russia.
The said embassy in Nigeria that the plane wasn’t Russian and had no link with Russia.
“According to the information of the Embassy, the detained in Kano plane, allegedly carrying military hardware on board, is not Russian,” the Russia Embassy in Nigeria, tweeted via its handle @RusEmbNigeria late Saturday.
Security operatives at the airport had seized the plane, which was also said to be carrying helicopters and bullet proof vests.
A source at the airport told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that the plane, which was bound for D’jamena, Chad Republic, landed at the airport around 2:15am on Saturday.
According to the source, the crew members are still being detained by the security agents following the discovery of the arms, including many AK47 rifles and other items.
“Security has since been beefed up at the airport in order to ensure proper investigation,” the source said.
When contacted, the General Manager of Communication of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Yakubu Dati, confirmed the seizure of the plane.
Dati said the pilot sought for permission to land at the airport following a technical problem with the aircraft.
“The plane had a technical problem and the pilot sought for permission to land at the airport,” he said.
Datti, who declined to describe the contents in the aircraft, however, said that security agencies had since commenced investigation on the issue.
The affected plane was also said to be carrying two helicopters and bullet proof vests.
A source at the airport told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday that the plane, which was bound for D’jamena, Chad Republic, landed at the airport around 2:15am on Saturday.
According to the source, the crew members are still being detained by the security agents following the discovery of the arms, including many AK47 rifles and other items.
“Security has since been beefed up at the airport in order to ensure proper investigation,” the source said.
When contacted, the General Manager of Communication of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Yakubu Dati, confirmed the seizure of the plane.
Dati said the pilot sought for permission to land at the airport following a technical problem with the aircraft.
“The plane had a technical problem and the pilot sought for permission to land at the airport,” he said.
Datti, who declined to describe the contents in the aircraft, however, said that security agencies had since commenced investigation on the issue.
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.
