Days after a Russian aircraft carrying military arms was held at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, journalists have been restricted from entering the airport by a joint security of the Air Force and Mobile policemen.
The security personnel on Friday searched every vehicle or individual going into the airport to identify journalists.
While the stop and search is ongoing, members of the Northern Consensus Movement are planning a protest over the Russian cargo.
Several calls were made by Channels Television’s correspondent to the president of the movement, Comrade Ibrahim Garba, who was since at the airport to brief reporters but no response.
An Air Force official attached to the main entrance of the airport told Channels Television that the decision to restrict movement was made because of journalists.
“l am sorry but my orders are to stop you from entering this facility. So please go back,” the air force official said.
Nevertheless, a close look at the Plane, which was packed near the new International terminal of the airport, has a Russian Flag design on it with inscription number 224, R-82038.
Sources at the airport said the plane was under the escort of 18 persons, comprising of two pilots and two foreign soldiers in military uniform.
“From the control tower, the pilot asked for clearance to land on emergency but on landing he was asked to provide clearance for entering the Nigeria airspace. What he gave was actually uttered”
“After search of the cargo aircraft, “two invincible to raider military aircraft, one bulletproof ford and four containers filled with different calibre of rifles and bullets were discovered”.
Neither the airport’s security nor authority has said anything about the continued stay of the plane, but sources say former Borno State Governor, Ali Modu Shariff, had on Sunday held a secret meeting with the airport’s officials.
