Following a diplomatic intervention by President Bola Tinubu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11-member crew detained in Burkina Faso have been released.
The resolution was finalized on Wednesday during a bilateral meeting in Ouagadougou between Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar and Burkina Faso’s leader, Ibrahim Traoré.
Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa verified the release later that evening, marking the end of the standoff triggered by the aircraft’s forced landing.
Persecondnews recalls that the incident occurred nearly two weeks ago when a Nigerian Air Force C 130 aircraft, with 11 personnel on board, made a forced landing in Bobo Dioulasso while on a ferry mission to Portugal.
Air Force spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame clarified that the crew performed a precautionary landing at the nearest airfield after detecting a technical fault, citing adherence to international aviation protocols.
However, this explanation was met with hostility from Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita.
Representing the Confederation of Sahel States, Goita characterized the incident as an “unfriendly act” and a breach of international law, asserting that member states are authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates their sovereign airspace.
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