Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian soldiers and a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that were held after an unscheduled landing in the country. The release came about 10 days after the incident and followed sustained diplomatic contacts between both countries.
The soldiers were crew members of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft that developed a technical fault shortly after taking off from Lagos on December 8. The aircraft was on its way to Portugal when the crew diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso as a safety measure.
After the landing, Burkinabe authorities detained the aircraft and its crew, citing concerns over entry into their airspace without prior clearance. The matter attracted attention from both military and diplomatic circles, as the incident was treated as a possible violation of national airspace.
Nigeria responded through diplomatic channels, with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs engaging their counterparts in Burkina Faso. President Bola Tinubu also approved high-level intervention and sent a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to help resolve the situation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, was later confirmed to be in Burkina Faso as part of the efforts that led to the release. Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in the country also maintained contact with Burkinabe officials throughout the period.
The Nigerian Air Force had earlier stated that the crew was safe and treated well during their stay, explaining that the emergency landing followed global aviation safety rules. The House of Representatives had also raised concerns and called for quick diplomatic action.
While the soldiers and aircraft have now been freed, details of their return to Nigeria were not immediately available at the time of reporting.