Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ABUJA1116
2009-06-19 13:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Abuja
Cable title:
NIGERIA: WEAPONS LADEN PLANE IMPOUNDED IN KANO;
how-toVZCZCXRO4182 PP RUEHPA DE RUEHUJA #1116 1701354 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191354Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6359 INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1544 RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0398 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1962 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0921 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001116
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL PINR PGOV MASS NI EK HR
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WEAPONS LADEN PLANE IMPOUNDED IN KANO;
EQUITORIAL GUINEAN MOD CONFIRMS OWNERSHIP
REF: HARPOLE (MALABO)-RYAN (ABUJA) 06/19 E-MAIL
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ABUJA 001116
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL PINR PGOV MASS NI EK HR
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WEAPONS LADEN PLANE IMPOUNDED IN KANO;
EQUITORIAL GUINEAN MOD CONFIRMS OWNERSHIP
REF: HARPOLE (MALABO)-RYAN (ABUJA) 06/19 E-MAIL
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (SBU) A Ukrainian aircraft said to be "fully loaded" with
18 crates of weapons was impounded by a Nigerian military
intelligence unit at Kano's Aminu Kano International Airport
shortly after 4:00 AM on June 17. The plane, an Antonov 12
with registration number MEM 4-060 and tail number UR-CAK,
was claimed the following day by the Ukrainian company
Meridian. Mykola Minyaylo, Meridian's Director General,
maintained in the Nigerian press that "the plane was flying
from Zagreb, Croatia to Equatorial Guinea and landed in
Nigeria to refuel." Lagos-based BusinessDay online points out
that the Ukrainian news agency (UNIAN) has said its country's
main arms export agency Ukrspetseksport disavows the cargo
and insists it belongs to Croatia. (Note: A preliminary
report had said that the aircraft was forced to make an
emergency landing in Kano due to mechanical prpblems. This
report was later refuted. End Note.) Conflicting news reports
maintain that either a Nigerian customs agent or a clearing
agent in the employ of an unnamed Nigerian domestic carrier
is in custody and undergoing questioning, in addition to a
Nigerian airport official who allegedly allowed the plane to
land without clearance from his superiors. The detained crew
of the plane is variously reported to consist of between four
and seven Ukrainian nationals. According to press reports,
the radar at Kano airport was not functioning at the time and
authorities were unaware the plane was in Nigerian airspace
prior to its arrival.
2. (C) INL Off, currently in Kano, spoke with the Director
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at Kano airport
who told him that the plane's cargo were mostly ammunition
but with various weapons in small quantities. Military
officials in Kano have been tasked with leading the
investigation in conjunction with the State Security Service
(SSS) and Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). INL
Off was told that he would not be given access to the plane,
nor additional information about the ongoing investigation.
Nevertheless, Poloff Abuja was told by Poloff Malabo (ref
e-mail) that the Government of the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea's Ministry of Defense (GREGMOD) has confirmed to
Embassy Malabo that the plane was loaded with weapons
purchased by GREGMOD.
3. (C) COMMENT: The GON apparently suspects that the
weapons were ultimately destined for Niger Delta militants,
and press reports claim that documents recovered by the
military during a recent attack on the main camp of Delta
militant Tom Polo identify Ukraine as one of the militants'
primary sources of weapons. The Equitorial Guinean MOD's
claim of ownership notwithstanding, we expect suspicions that
the arms were destined for the Niger Delta will persist. We
also recall that the Government of Equatorial Guinea blamed
the February 17 attack on the Presidential Palace in Malabo
on militants from the Niger Delta, so there may be no
shortage of suspicion on all sides. This incident also
underscores the lack of air traffic control and monitoring
capabilities at some of Nigeria's international airports. End
Comment.
SANDERS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA
BAGHDAD FOR DMCCULLOUGH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/16/2019
TAGS: PARM PREL PINR PGOV MASS NI EK HR
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: WEAPONS LADEN PLANE IMPOUNDED IN KANO;
EQUITORIAL GUINEAN MOD CONFIRMS OWNERSHIP
REF: HARPOLE (MALABO)-RYAN (ABUJA) 06/19 E-MAIL
Classified By: Political Counselor Walter N.S. Pflaumer for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d)
1. (SBU) A Ukrainian aircraft said to be "fully loaded" with
18 crates of weapons was impounded by a Nigerian military
intelligence unit at Kano's Aminu Kano International Airport
shortly after 4:00 AM on June 17. The plane, an Antonov 12
with registration number MEM 4-060 and tail number UR-CAK,
was claimed the following day by the Ukrainian company
Meridian. Mykola Minyaylo, Meridian's Director General,
maintained in the Nigerian press that "the plane was flying
from Zagreb, Croatia to Equatorial Guinea and landed in
Nigeria to refuel." Lagos-based BusinessDay online points out
that the Ukrainian news agency (UNIAN) has said its country's
main arms export agency Ukrspetseksport disavows the cargo
and insists it belongs to Croatia. (Note: A preliminary
report had said that the aircraft was forced to make an
emergency landing in Kano due to mechanical prpblems. This
report was later refuted. End Note.) Conflicting news reports
maintain that either a Nigerian customs agent or a clearing
agent in the employ of an unnamed Nigerian domestic carrier
is in custody and undergoing questioning, in addition to a
Nigerian airport official who allegedly allowed the plane to
land without clearance from his superiors. The detained crew
of the plane is variously reported to consist of between four
and seven Ukrainian nationals. According to press reports,
the radar at Kano airport was not functioning at the time and
authorities were unaware the plane was in Nigerian airspace
prior to its arrival.
2. (C) INL Off, currently in Kano, spoke with the Director
of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at Kano airport
who told him that the plane's cargo were mostly ammunition
but with various weapons in small quantities. Military
officials in Kano have been tasked with leading the
investigation in conjunction with the State Security Service
(SSS) and Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). INL
Off was told that he would not be given access to the plane,
nor additional information about the ongoing investigation.
Nevertheless, Poloff Abuja was told by Poloff Malabo (ref
e-mail) that the Government of the Republic of Equatorial
Guinea's Ministry of Defense (GREGMOD) has confirmed to
Embassy Malabo that the plane was loaded with weapons
purchased by GREGMOD.
3. (C) COMMENT: The GON apparently suspects that the
weapons were ultimately destined for Niger Delta militants,
and press reports claim that documents recovered by the
military during a recent attack on the main camp of Delta
militant Tom Polo identify Ukraine as one of the militants'
primary sources of weapons. The Equitorial Guinean MOD's
claim of ownership notwithstanding, we expect suspicions that
the arms were destined for the Niger Delta will persist. We
also recall that the Government of Equatorial Guinea blamed
the February 17 attack on the Presidential Palace in Malabo
on militants from the Niger Delta, so there may be no
shortage of suspicion on all sides. This incident also
underscores the lack of air traffic control and monitoring
capabilities at some of Nigeria's international airports. End
Comment.
SANDERS