News
Russia Disowns Plane With Arms …France Claims Cargo
L-R: Chairman, CTC WALGA, Chief Amagi Sunday and Chairman APC WALGA, Hon Christian Asifamaka receiving Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, at PVC collection centre in Okrika. Photo: Egberi A. Sampson
The government of Russia has denied report that the aircraft allegedly moving some military hardware to Chad and intercepted in Nigeria on Saturday has any link with Russia.
The country in a post through its embassy in Nigeria cleared that the plane does not belong to Russia and has nothing to do with the country.
The information tweeted by Russian Embassy in Nigerian, @RusEmbNigeria says, ”According to the information of the Embassy, the detained in Kano plane, allegedly carrying military hardware on board, is not Russian. The information was twitted yesterday night.
Security operatives impounded the cargo plane with registration number AN124100RA82038 conveying arms and ammunition from Bangui, Central African Republic, to Ndjamena, the capital city of Chad at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The Russian plane flight number TFT9042 had seven crew members and was said to have landed at the Airport at about 9.00am to refuel.
Security sources at the Airport said “the security operatives at the airport sought to screen the manifest of the Russian cargo, and “it was in the process that we discovered that the cargo was laden with assorted weapons of war”.
The manifest indicate that there were about 24 packages of assorted weapons weighing 19,707 kilogrammes.
The weapons also include, a steel box weighing 2600kg, 6 Bulk also weighing 597kg, 22 pallets 10000Ibs weighing 2746kg, two number blade7.31m, also weighing 680kg.
Other items in the manifest titled: JSC “Kun224” includes 6 AKN weighing 720kg, 1 vehicle weighing 4050kg and 2 pallets 10000Ibs also weighing 2800kg.The seven crew members have been taken into custody for interrogation on the order of the Airport Commander, Wing Commander Imoke.
Commenting on the development, the General Manager, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Yakubu Datti, revealed that “the pilot of the seized Cargo plane sought permission to land at the airport following technical hitches.”
Indications emerged yesterday that security agencies have swung into action to unravel the destination of the arms.
Security sources said the interception and arrest of the suspicious Russian made Antonov aircraft at the Aminu Kano International airport was made possible by a super sensitive security alert system which revealed that a helicopter was tucked in it.
Military sources further disclosed that the investigation which is intense, involves the use of diplomatic means to unravel the mission of the aircraft, its origin and destination.
However, France has admitted ownership of the cargo plane that was impounded by military authorities at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, last Saturday.
It said that the flight was covered by a diplomatic clearance given by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, noting that the Autonov 124 Russian commercial plane was forced to land at the Kano airport because of dense air traffic at Ndjamena airport, Chad.
A statement from the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jacques Champagne de Labriolle, on Sunday, stated that the Antonov plane had to divert to an alternate international airport and the closest airport facility being Kano, the Russian crew decided to fly there, to refuel, and to take off again to reach Njamena Airport.
He denied that the plane was carrying arms and ammunition, stressing that it was conveying two light Gazelle helicopters, spare parts and maintenance items belonging to the French Army.
Meanwhile, a former governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, widely accused of sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria, may be lobbying for the release of the Chad-bound cargo aircraft confiscated in Kano for transporting large consignment of military hardware, according to reports.
Sources at the Aminu Kano International Airport, where the plane is currently detained, said Mr. Sheriff visited the Kano airport at about 10 p.m. on Saturday and held discussions with some officials on the possibility of releasing the aircraft.
Our sources said on arriving the airport, officials allowed the former governor a secret tour of the aircraft, during which he inspected its consignments.
“I was there and I saw him and two airport security officials accompanying him to inspect the plane. I saw the black helicopters and two bullet proof SUVs,” one of our sources said. “I also heard him (Mr. Sheriff) say verbal directive had been given from Abuja for the release of the plane but that authorities of the airport were insisting on written directive.”
Mr. Sheriff could not be reached to comment for this story.
The former Borno governor is a close ally of both the Nigerian president, and the government of Chad – the plane’s final destination.
A 2010 Intelligence report by a Nigerian security agency suggested that Mr. Sheriff was personally involved in the recruitment, training and dispatch of Boko Haram fighters, under the full cover of Idris Deby, the Chadian president.
Chad is Nigeria’s neighbour. Laying on Nigeria’s northeast shoulder, and sharing long distances of unregulated borders, it is considered a window to safety for Boko Haram fighters.
An Australian negotiator engaged by the Nigerian government to bring Boko Haram insurgents to the negotiation table, Stephen Davies, also spoke of how the insurgents named Mr. Sheriff as one of their sponsors during his conversations with the terrorists.
After inspecting the plane and holding discussions with local officials, Mr. Sheriff reportedly left for Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, in a private jet at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Security operatives at the Kano Airport had seized the plane when it landed at the facility at about 2a.m. Saturday as a result of technical problems.
The General Manager, Communications, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Yakubu Datti, confirmed the seizure of the plane.
“The plane had a technical problem and the pilot sought (for) permission to land at the airport”, he said.
PR Nigeria, an agency known for distributing press statements on behalf of the Nigerian military, later circulated a statement saying the aircraft contained “a chopper tucked in it”.
“… Intense investigation is ongoing including using diplomatic means to unravel the mission of the aircraft, its origin and destination,” the statement said.
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.