Exposed: Aircraft intercepted with arms in Kano belongs to US

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 is still generating a lot of confusion.

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 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.

Below are the details as revealed in the statement:
"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.

Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) had 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.”

UPDATE: France has admitted ownership of the plane that was impounded by military authorities at the Aminu Kano Airport in Kano. Sources say the plane has been released.

This is not the first time a foreign plane is being intercepted at the Kano 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 later cleared to proceed to Malabo in Equatorial Guinea.