A Russian plane carrying military hardware and its nine crew members were detained overnight at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, on the orders of military authorities in Kano.
The weapon-laden plane made a technical landing at the airport apparently to refuel.
Security sources disclosed that the revelation of the cargo manifest upon scrutiny prompted the clamp-down on the jet by security personnel as it was found to be carrying large consignments of arms and ammunition.
Following this discovery, it was gathered that the plane was denied take off while the crew members were rounded up and kept under watch, security sourcees described as ‘protective custody.’
The arms and the identities of the crew members could not be ascertained as at the time of this report, it was, however, gathered that the plane was heading for Kinshasha, the capital of Congo Democratic Republic.
Spokesman for the 3 Mechanised Brigade, Nigeria Army, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, declined comment on the development, he rather referred National Mirror to the Corporate Affairs Manager of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Shawe, who, when contacted, said he was not competent to comment on the issue.
However, the aircraft and the nine crew members were released at about 2.00pm yesterday, 24 hours after the interception.
Sources said that the plane left Kano for its final destination of Kinshasha later.
However, no explanation has been given by security agents over the detention of the aircraft and its eventual release on the orders of the military.
It will be recalled that at about this time last year, an Ukrainian cargo plane from Dubai in the Middle East was impounded at the airport when it landed to refuel, the jet was found to be carrying assorted weapons by security officers at the airport.
After several days of intense investigations and diplomatic shuttle, the arms-laden plane was released to continue its journey to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea, which security authorities claimed was the final destination of the weapons.
