A foreign aircraft suspected to be carrying weapons has been arrested at the Aminu Kano Internat-ional Airport, Kano.
The Ukrainian aircraft was impounded by officers of the military intelligence unit at the airport in the late hours of Tuesday.
It was said to be “fully loaded” with weapons, but there was no further information on the type of weapons it was carrying.
There were also conflicting reports on the actual destination of the aircraft.
THISDAY was initially informed that the aircraft was destined for Nigeria, but another source said it was heading for Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, but developed technical faults and had to make emergency landing in Nigeria.
The airport military intelligence officers arrested four persons on the plane – two pilots and two foreign nationals.
A Nigerian official, who allegedly cleared the aircraft for landing, was also arrested.
The impounded aircraft has been placed under tight security. THISDAY was not allowed access to it, neither were photographers permitted to take pictures.
The cargo aircraft, a Fokker with registration number UR-CAK, is painted white with red stripes.
It was parked at the airport pending investigation into their mission in the country, according to airport sources.
It was learnt that the security personnel at the airport were in a meeting over the shock find, with the arrested persons undergoing intensive questioning over their possible “sponsors” and “accomplices” in the country.
Most of the officials at the airport who spoke with reporters under anonymity described the apprehension of the plane as “a big success” because “it is a security threat to Nigeria”.
“Is this how foreign airplanes bring weapons into Nigeria?” one asked, rhetorically. “Perhaps this has been going on for sometime, who knows?”
Airport workers, also commenting on the development, praised the security officials for “a job well done”.
No official was willing to speak on record, as all efforts to speak with the Airport commandant of the Nigeria Air Force was  not successful.