Burkina Faso has released Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members who were detained after a Nigerian military aircraft made an unscheduled landing in the country, following diplomatic intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The release came after President Tinubu sent a high-level delegation, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to Ouagadougou for discussions with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
In a statement issued by the spokesperson to the foreign affairs minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, both countries reached a peaceful resolution regarding the detained air force personnel, who had been held for close to two weeks.
The aircraft’s landing had earlier sparked tension after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) accused Nigeria of carrying out an unfriendly act in violation of international law. The allegation heightened diplomatic strain between Nigeria and the Sahelian alliance.
However, the Nigerian Air Force rejected the claim, explaining that the aircraft experienced a technical problem mid-flight, necessitating a precautionary landing at Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest suitable airport. According to the NAF, the decision was made strictly in accordance with international aviation safety regulations.
During the closed-door meeting in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, Minister Tuggar reportedly conveyed President Tinubu’s message of solidarity and goodwill to Captain Traoré.
Abdulkadir noted that discussions went beyond the immediate incident, focusing on broader political, security and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, particularly in the face of growing insecurity across the Sahel region.
He said both countries emphasized the need for joint efforts to address regional security challenges through existing sub-regional frameworks and agreed to maintain regular diplomatic engagements.
“Both parties committed to sustained consultations and concrete steps aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and promoting peace, stability and regional integration,” Abdulkadir stated.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; Air Vice Marshal A.Y. Abdullahi, Chief of Policy and Plans at the Nigerian Air Force; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Olawale Awe; and the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wahab Akande.
The release of the detained personnel has helped defuse what could have escalated into a major diplomatic crisis, especially amid strained relations between ECOWAS member states and the AES bloc.
