France ‘owns cargo’ on plane seized in Kano

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

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 authorised 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.