Nigeria has reportedly seized a Russian-made Antonov transport plane on its way to Chad.

The plane, which was bound for the Chadian capital N’djamena landed at a Nigerian airport on Saturday.

The air port authorities and security officials seized the aircraft after it made an unscheduled landing at Kano airport in northern Nigeria.

MYakubu Datti, the general manager of communication at the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), have confirmed the seizure of the cargo plane.

He said the pilot requested permission to land at the airport following a technical problem with the aircraft.

“The plane had a technical problem and the pilot sought for permission to land at the airport,” media outlets quoted Datti as saying.

The plane was said to be carrying two helicopters, rocket launchers and machine guns and bullet proof vests.

Sources say at least five crew members have been detained by security agents following the discovery of the arms including many AK47 rifles and other items.

“Security has since been beefed up at the airport in order to ensure proper investigation,” a regional security official said.

Crews have said that the plane was flying from Bangui in the Central African Republic, to N’Djamena. Kano is far northwest of that air route.

Chad has thousands of troops in the Central African Republic’s capital city of Bangui, serving for the African Union peacekeeping force there.