The Nigerian government has announced the release of 11 military personnel detained in Burkina Faso after sustained diplomatic engagement by the Federal Government.
The personnel were held last week after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, south-western Burkina Faso. Burkinabe authorities initially cited an alleged violation of the country’s airspace as the reason for the detention.
The release, which took place on Wednesday night, came about nine days after the incident. It was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
Ebienfa said the breakthrough followed the intervention of a high-level Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who travelled to Burkina Faso to engage government officials and resolve the misunderstanding surrounding the aircraft’s landing.
A statement issued by the minister’s spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said both countries agreed to settle the issue amicably through dialogue.
“In the spirit of constructive engagement, the two governments amicably resolved the issue concerning Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew, reinforcing confidence and highlighting the effectiveness of dialogue in addressing sensitive matters,” the statement said.
The detention came after the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—accused Nigeria of breaching Burkina Faso’s airspace, describing the emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso as a violation of national sovereignty.
The Nigerian Air Force rejected the claim, explaining that the aircraft landed in Burkina Faso solely for safety reasons and in line with international aviation procedures.
According to the NAF, the crew observed a technical concern while en route to Portugal and carried out a precautionary landing at the nearest suitable airfield.
Mr Tuggar had earlier said the incident had no link to Nigeria’s stance on the recent military coup in Benin, noting that diplomatic talks were already underway while the personnel were being held.
The resolution of the matter highlights Nigeria’s use of diplomacy to defuse sensitive security issues in the region, amid heightened tensions involving military-led governments across parts of the Sahel.
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