Nigerian government reveals whereabouts of detained NAF officers, plane

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has confirmed that Nigerian soldiers aboard the C-130 aircraft that made a forced landing in Burkina Faso remain in the West African country.

Tuggar made the statement on Thursday during a joint press briefing at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja alongside his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier explained that the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when it experienced a technical issue, prompting it to land in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, in accordance with standard aviation safety protocols.

NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the landing was a precautionary move in compliance with international aviation regulations.

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, had accused Nigeria of violating Burkinabe airspace, describing the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law.”

The AES also authorised member states to neutralise any unauthorised aircraft within their airspace.

Responding to questions on the soldiers’ status, the minister said they are still in Burkina Faso.

He said, “Yes, they are. We are discussing how we can resolve this delicate matter as quickly as possible, and we’re talking. So it’s something that is being handled diplomatically.”

Tuggar said, “Absolutely, it was on its way to Portugal, and it developed a technical problem and was forced to land.

“And this is part of ICAO regulations, it’s under international law.
When you’re flying, and you have a problem, you land in the nearest airport, and it can happen to anybody.

“Tomorrow, it can be a Burkinabe plane flying, let’s say, to Kenya or somewhere, and then it’s forced to land in Kano or Maiduguri or anywhere else. It can be any other country.”

Meanwhile, Beninese Foreign Minister, Olushegun Bakari, has clarified that the plane had no connection with Nigeria’s military support in foiling a recent coup attempt in the Benin Republic. Tuggar backed the clarification.