Burkina Faso frees Nigerian military aircraft, crew
Quick Read
The incident had drawn regional attention after comments from Sahel military leaders raised concerns over airspace violations
By Paul Dada
The Federal Government has announced the release of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11 soldiers who were held in Burkina Faso following a forced landing.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who confirmed the development on Wednesday night, said both the aircraft and the military personnel had been freed.
The release was a consequence of a diplomatic engagement led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who met Burkina Faso’s military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
The aircraft, a Nigerian Air Force C-130, had made a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso nearly two weeks earlier while en route to Portugal on a ferry mission. The Air Force had explained that the crew diverted due to a technical fault, in line with aviation safety procedures.
The incident had drawn regional attention after comments from Sahel military leaders raised concerns over airspace violations.
Tuggar later met with with the 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel. The Nigerian delegation and the now freed personnel are expected back in Nigeria on Thursday
Comments