Authorities in Nigeria have released a Ukrainian aircraft that was seized in June while carrying weapons bound for Equatorial Guinea.

Security sources in Nigeria say the plane, its cargo and crew left the city of Kano on Tuesday, headed for Equatorial Guinea's capital, Malabo.

Nigerian officials impounded the plane and arrested its seven-man crew after it landed at the Kano airport June 17 to deal with technical problems.

The Nigerian government has not made any official comment on the matter. But local newspapers quote sources as saying the plane was freed after authorities determined the weapons on board belonged to Equatorial Guinea's government.

The plane was allowed to depart with the 18 crates of mines and ammunition it was carrying at the time of its seizure.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP.