 |
|
Russian
plane detained in Kano (Photo: Uba Danzainab)
|
The
Nigerian military has intercepted a Russian plane loaded with large amount of
arms and ammunition, bound for neighbouring Chad.
A security source has told
PREMIUM TIMES.
The
plane was seized early Saturday at the Aminu Kano International Airport. The
aircraft, which was headed for N’djamena, the capital of Chad, landed in Kano
at about 2a.m. Nigerian time, the source said.
All
crew members of the aircraft have been detained by Nigerian forces.
Airport
authority and security officials say they have seized an aircraft loaded with
at least one military helicopter and heavy weapons that made an unscheduled
landing at Kano airport in northern Nigeria.
Security
agents said they detained five Ukrainian crew members who said the plane was
flying from Bangui in Central African Republic, to N'Djamena, the capital of
Chad. Kano is far northwest of that air route.
Nigeria's
airport authority confirmed Sunday that a Russian-made Antonov transport plane
was seized Saturday.
The
official PR Nigeria news agency said the plane carried one helicopter but
security officers said the cargo included two helicopters, rocket launchers and
machine guns. They spoke anonymously because of the topic's sensitivity.
Meanwhile
the Nigerian military says it is still investigating the motive and destination
of a Russian Antonov cargo plane earlier intercepted at Mallam Aminu Kano
International Airport in Kano. A statement issued by through PR Nigeria
said military investigators have found a huge cache of weapons and a helicopter
tucked inside the cargo plane.
Chad
has thousands of troops in Bangui, part of an African Union peacekeeping force.
No comments:
Post a Comment