Burkina Faso has released 11 members of the Nigerian Air Force who were detained on December 8 after their aircraft made an emergency landing in the country. The personnel—two flight crew members and nine passengers—were freed following sustained dialogue between the two governments, according to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar. Tuggar highlighted the effectiveness of diplomacy in resolving the sensitive issue in a statement confirming the release.
The aircraft, bound for Portugal for scheduled maintenance, landed in western Burkina Faso in accordance with international guidelines and standard safety procedures, as stated by the Nigerian Air Force. The incident prompted the Alliance of Sahel States—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—to place its air and anti‑air defenses on maximum alert and authorize forces to neutralize any aircraft violating its airspace. After the personnel’s release, tensions appear to have eased.
The crew will now continue to Portugal for the planned maintenance, Nigerian foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said. The episode occurred amid strained relations between the Sahel alliance and Nigeria, which has been involved in intervention efforts to reverse a coup in neighboring Benin. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), of which Nigeria is a member, has clashed with the Sahel alliance, which accuses the regional bloc of imposing inhumane sanctions and acting against its citizens’ interests.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, a spokesperson for Tuggar, confirmed that the matter had been resolved and the personnel were no longer detained. Both countries have agreed to hold regular consultations to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration. The release is seen as a positive development that could improve Nigeria’s relations with the Sahel alliance and promote greater stability in the region.
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