Burkina Faso has released the Nigerian military personnel detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country, following high-level diplomatic engagement initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The soldiers regained their freedom after the President dispatched a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to meet Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on Wednesday. The talks brought an end to nearly two weeks of diplomatic tension triggered by the incident.
A statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson to the foreign affairs minister, confirmed that both countries resolved the matter amicably, paving the way for the release of the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew involved.
The military personnel were detained after the Confederation of Sahel States accused Nigeria of carrying out what it described as an “unfriendly act” in violation of international law. The allegation followed the unscheduled landing of a Nigerian military aircraft in Bobo-Dioulasso, a key city in Burkina Faso.
The Nigerian Air Force, however, maintained that the landing was purely precautionary, explaining that the crew detected a technical issue mid-flight and opted to land at the nearest available airfield in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Although unverified reports had circulated last week suggesting the soldiers had been released, Tuggar clarified at the time that the personnel were still being held, while diplomatic efforts were ongoing to secure their freedom.
Read Also:
- FG investigates emergency landing of air force plane in Burkina Faso
- C-130 makes safe emergency landing in Burkina Faso due to technical issue – Nigerian Air Force
- Burkina Faso, 2 other African countries seek membership in ICC
According to Abdulkadir, Wednesday’s meeting provided an opportunity for broader engagement beyond the immediate incident. Tuggar conveyed President Tinubu’s message of solidarity and fraternity to Traoré, as both sides explored ways to strengthen bilateral relations and promote cooperation within the region.
Discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing political, security and economic collaboration, with particular attention to joint responses to regional security threats and collective action through existing sub-regional frameworks.
Both governments, Abdulkadir said, agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical steps to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, underscoring a shared commitment to peace, unity and stability across the sub-region.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; the Chief of Policy and Plans at the Nigerian Air Force, A. Y. Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the Economic Community of West African States, Olawale Awe; and Wahab Akande, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
