A Ukrainian cargo plane loaded with arms and ammunition, which was impounded by Nigerian authorities when it made a technical landing at an airport in the country’s northern city of Kano in June, has been released, the local press reported Wednesday.
It said the plane and its eight-member crew left the Malam Aminu Kano Internatio nal Airport Tuesday afternoon for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, after the Nigerian government was satisfied that the 18 crates of arms a nd ammunition aboard it belong to the government of Equatorial Guinea.
a?Following top level meetings between officials of Nigeria and Equatorial Guin ea and documents examined, which all confirmed that the weapons belong to Equatorial Guinea, the plane was ordered to be released by the Federal Government,a? the private Thisday newspaper quoted an unnamed security source as saying.
Fears had been expressed that the weapons aboard the plane might have been meant for Nigeria’s oil militants, who are believed to be obtaining their weapons through arms dealers in Equatorial Guinea.
