The Nigerian government has condemned the detention of the Malian President, Bah Ndaw, and the country’s Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane by soldiers loyal to Vice President Assimi Goita.

Foreign affairs ministry in a statement posted on Twitter said the action might breach the peace in the country. 

“The action is totally unacceptable and might derail the peace-building efforts and timetable for the return of democratic governance in Mali,” ministry spokesperson Ferdinard Nwonye, said in the statement.

Malians feared that a military coup has taken place when President Ndaw and the prime minister were arrested by the soldiers on Monday.

The Buhari regime demanded the military to release the president and the prime minister unconditionally, saying supporters of Mali and stakeholders in the region “reject the act of coercion of the detained officials, including forced resignations.”

Peoples Gazette reported that Messrs Ndaw and Ouane were forcefully arrested on Monday and taken to Kati Military Camp near the capital, Bamako.

Many world leaders have lent their voices to denounce the illegal detention. United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, earlier on Wednesday condemned the arrest.

Mr Guterres in a tweet said, “I am deeply concerned by news of detention of civilian leaders of the Malian transition.” “I call for calm & their unconditional release. My Special Representative is working closely with ECOWAS, the AU & all other international actors supporting the ongoing political transition.”