The Federal Government delegation sent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the eleven released Nigerian Air Force personnel are expected back in Nigeria today (Thursday).
After securing their release from Ibrahim Traoré’s Burkina Faso, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with the 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel.
The NAF personnel were released after 10 days of detention in the West African country following an emergency landing.
Their release was confirmed on Wednesday night by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.
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 authorisation to enter Burkinabe airspace.
Following days of diplomatic engagements, President Tinubu dispatched a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage with Burkinabe authorities.
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