FG Confirms Release Of NAF Aircraft, Personnel In Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has released an aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force and 11 Nigerian soldiers, as confirmed by the Federal Government.

They were released after 10 days of detention in the West African country following an emergency landing.

Their release was confirmed to The PUNCH on Wednesday night by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

He said: “They have been released. I just confirmed with our Head of Mission in Burkina Faso.”

However, it remained unclear when the soldiers and the aircraft would return to Nigeria, as their travel arrangements could not be immediately verified.

Burkina Faso authorities had detained the military personnel after their Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, following a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos en route to Portugal.

Burkina Faso authorities initially held the aircraft and its crew over alleged airspace violations, describing the incident as a breach of sovereignty. Investigations by the Confederation of Sahel States and Burkinabe officials reportedly concluded that the aircraft lacked prior authorization to enter Burkinabe airspace.

Following days of diplomatic engagements, President Tinubu dispatched a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage with Burkinabe authorities.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, was confirmed to be in Ouagadougou as the President’s Special Envoy to facilitate the release of the detained personnel.

Ebienfa said the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires in Burkina Faso had been engaging the host government, alongside the high-level intervention authorised by the President.

“The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Burkina Faso has been engaging the host government, and Mr President has also sent a Special Envoy. We are optimistic that the matter will be resolved soonest,” he said earlier.