The General Manager of Turkish Airlines, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Ahmet Can Akbuga has said that the airline did in fact ship arms into Nigeria, however he said it was under the framework of relevant international laws.
Akugba said in a statement that the end user of the arms were the Nigerian Navy.
The statement reads partly, “On the carriage of arms, the forwarders and addressees can send their cargo with Turkish Airlines Cargo through the representative they have designated, after accomplishing the necessary official approval procedure from the relevant state authorities.
“Turkish Airlines Cargo effectuates such shipment again in strict conformity with the law and rules of the forwarders’ and addressees’ countries and by taking necessary security measures as being done by other air carriers.”
The Nigerian Navy has also stated that the airline carrier did in fact bring in ammunition for it through the Murtala Muhammad Airport.
A Naval spokesman, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu confirmed this. He said the arms were moved to a Naval base on March 12th.