France ‘Owns Cargo’ On Plane Seized In Kano; Russian Embassy U-Turn On Plane Ownership

The detained aircraft

The cargo on the Chad-bound aircraft that was detained at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano on Saturday belongs to France, TheCable reports.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the French ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, he said the Antonov plane had to divert to an alternative airport because it could not land in N’Djamena as a result of heavy traffic.

He said the Russian crew decided to fly to Kano, which is the closest airport, to refuel, adding that the flight was covered by a diplomatic clearance given by Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs.

Labriolle said contrary to reports, the plane was not carrying arms and ammunition, but two light Gazelle helicopters, spare parts and maintenance items belonging to the French army.

Because of the nature of the cargo, he said, the airport authorities decided to check the flight plan, the clearance and the cargo manifest.

He said official information had been supplied by the French embassy in Nigeria, revealing that the federal and airport authorities have announced that the plane will be authorized to continue its flight to Ndjamena ─ after being satisfied with the explanations.

Labriolle said the French armed forces had on December 6, 2014 chartered the flight on the Russian commercial company “224 Flight Unit” to ship two light helicopters from Bangui to Ndjamena.
However, the Russians had provided some drama to to the scenario.

PREMIUM TIMES reports 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.