Burkina Faso Releases Nigerian Air Force Aircraft, 11 Personnel.

Burkina Faso has freed a Nigerian Air Force aircraft along with the 11 personnel on board who were previously detained.

The Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft, conveying 11 officers on a ferry operation to Portugal, made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso about two weeks ago after experiencing technical difficulties.

According to the Director of Public Relations of the Nigerian Air Force, Mr Ehimen Ejodame, the crew diverted to the nearest airfield strictly for safety reasons, in line with international aviation standards.

However, Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, speaking on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, described the precautionary landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law.”

Goita also warned that member states of the Sahel alliance would take steps to neutralise any aircraft found violating their airspace.

Despite the earlier accusations, the Nigerian government has now confirmed that both the aircraft and the 11 personnel have been released.

Their release followed high-level diplomatic discussions between a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, and Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Mr Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.

Tuggar, who led the delegation on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, later briefed journalists on the outcome of the engagement.

Confirming the development on Wednesday night, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said: “Yes, they have been released.”