The Federal Government has confirmed the release of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11 soldiers that were detained in Burkina Faso after the aircraft made a forced landing.
The confirmation was given on Wednesday night by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, who said the aircraft and military personnel had been freed.
“Yes, they have been released,” Ebienfa stated.
The development followed a diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, met with the Burkinabe junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou earlier on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Tuggar said the visit was undertaken at the directive of President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to resolve the situation through dialogue.
The incident occurred nearly two weeks ago when a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft, conveying 11 soldiers, made a forced landing in Bobo Dioulasso while on a ferry mission to Portugal.
Explaining the circumstances, the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Mr Ehimen Ejodame, had said the aircraft encountered a technical issue mid-flight, prompting the crew to carry out a precautionary landing at the nearest available airfield in accordance with international aviation safety procedures.
However, the situation later escalated following comments by Mali’s junta leader, Mr Assimi Goita, who spoke on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States. Goita described the landing as an “unfriendly act” and alleged it was carried out in violation of international law, warning that member states were authorised to neutralise aircraft deemed to have breached their airspace.
The release of the aircraft and its personnel has helped ease diplomatic tensions over the incident, as Nigerian authorities reiterated their commitment to addressing regional issues through dialogue and established international protocols.
