#1 UN investigates Nigerian weapons shipment from Iran
Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:48 am
BBC
To be serious however, Nigeria is a nation split between Christian and Muslim groups. The Muslims are mostly Sunni but there are Shitte groups active. There as been violence between and within the two groups and sending additional weapons is not helpful.
You know to be fair the Iranians are so used to shipping weapons marked as building materials or medical aide supplies that they might have simply forgot that you do it any other way.UN weapons experts are in Nigeria to inspect an Iranian arms shipment seized in the port of Lagos last October.
The weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades, were found in containers labelled as building materials.
Nigeria reported the seizure to the UN Security Council for an apparent breach of the sanctions against Iran.
Nigeria has charged an alleged member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and three Nigerian citizens over the illegally imported weapons.
Iran is under UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme and is banned from supplying, selling or transferring arms.
Correspondents say mystery surrounds the intended destination of the weapons.
Nigerian authorities have said that the shipment originated in Iran and was destined for the capital, Abuja, after its arrival in Lagos.
But the shipment was intercepted when an attempt was made to re-export it to The Gambia.
The Gambia's neighbour Senegal recalled its ambassador to Tehran over the incident, amid speculation the weapons may have been destined for separatist rebels in its Casamance region.
Nigeria's Foreign Minister Odein Ajumogobia said he had met the six-member UN team and it was due to inspect the weapons from the 13 shipping containers on Tuesday.
Tehran has said the cargo was being shipped by a private company to a "West African country" and was the subject of a "misunderstanding" that has now been cleared up.
The trial of Azim Aghajani, identified by Nigerian court documents as a Tehran-based businessman and member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, is due to start at the end of the month.
To be serious however, Nigeria is a nation split between Christian and Muslim groups. The Muslims are mostly Sunni but there are Shitte groups active. There as been violence between and within the two groups and sending additional weapons is not helpful.