Burkina Faso authorities have released 11 Nigerian soldiers and a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, 10 days after they were detained following an emergency landing in the Sahel country.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the release to The PUNCH on Wednesday night.
“They have been released. I just confirmed with our Head of Mission in Burkina Faso,” Ebienfa said.
However, it has not been confirmed yet when the soldiers and aircraft will return to Nigeria, as travel arrangements have not yet been finalised.
The military personnel had been detained by Burkina Faso’s authorities 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 Bola Tinubu dispatched a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage with Burkinabe authorities.
Yesterday, 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.
It was also gathered that after securing their release from Ibrahim Traoré (military ruler of Burkina Faso), Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with the 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel.
The delegation sent by President Tinubu and the eleven Nigerian Air Force personnel are expected back in Nigeria today (Thursday).
Recall that the Nigerian Air Force had repeatedly assured that the crew remained safe and were treated courteously during their detention, emphasising that the precautionary landing was conducted in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
The aircraft was reportedly on a ferry mission to Portugal when it detected a technical issue shortly after take-off, prompting the crew to divert to the nearest airfield.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives raised concerns over the continued detention of the soldiers and urged diplomatic efforts to secure their release.