The Federal Government has confirmed the release of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11 personnel who were detained in Burkina Faso following a forced landing.
Confirming the development on Wednesday night, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the aircraft and its crew had been freed. “Yes, they have been released,” he stated.
The announcement followed a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, and Burkina Faso junta leader, Mr. Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on Wednesday. Tuggar, who led a Nigerian delegation, said the visit was undertaken at the direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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The incident occurred nearly two weeks ago when a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 personnel made a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso while on a ferry mission to Portugal.
The Director of Public Relations of the Nigerian Air Force, Mr. Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the crew had observed a technical issue and conducted a precautionary landing at the nearest airfield, in line with international aviation protocols.
However, Mali junta leader, Mr. Assimi Goita, speaking on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, had described the landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law,” warning that member states were authorised to neutralise aircraft violating their airspace.
