BURKINA Faso authorities have released 11 Nigerian soldiers and a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that were detained following an emergency landing in the Sahel country, bringing an end to a diplomatic standoff that lasted 10 days.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday night by the spokesperson of Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who said the release followed sustained diplomatic engagements between both countries.
“They have been released. I just confirmed with our Head of Mission in Burkina Faso,” Ebienfa told News Point Nigeria.
As of press time, details of when the soldiers and the aircraft would return to Nigeria remained unclear, as their travel and flight arrangements were yet to be finalised.
The military personnel were detained on December 8 after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, shortly after departing Lagos on a ferry mission to Portugal.
The aircraft reportedly developed a technical fault mid-flight, prompting the crew to divert to the nearest suitable airfield in line with standard aviation safety protocols.
However, Burkina Faso authorities subsequently detained the aircraft and its crew, citing alleged violations of the country’s airspace and describing the incident as a breach of sovereignty. Investigations by Burkinabe officials and the Confederation of Sahel States reportedly concluded that the aircraft did not obtain prior authorisation to enter Burkinabe airspace.
The detention triggered diplomatic concern in Nigeria, with the Federal Government engaging Burkina Faso through multiple channels to secure the release of the soldiers and the aircraft.
President Bola Tinubu intervened by authorising high-level diplomatic efforts, including the dispatch of a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage Burkinabe authorities directly.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, was confirmed to be in Ouagadougou, acting as the President’s Special Envoy, to facilitate the resolution of the matter.
Ebienfa had earlier disclosed that Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires in Burkina Faso had been in constant engagement with the host government, alongside the presidential intervention.
“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.
Throughout the period of detention, the Nigerian Air Force assured Nigerians that the detained crew members were safe and were being treated courteously by Burkinabe authorities.
The NAF maintained that the precautionary landing was conducted strictly in accordance with international aviation regulations and safety procedures.
The development also drew the attention of Nigeria’s legislature. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives expressed concern over the continued detention of the soldiers and called on the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
With the release now confirmed, diplomatic sources say arrangements are being finalised for the safe return of the soldiers and the aircraft to Nigeria, bringing closure to an incident that had raised regional and diplomatic sensitivities.