Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel following diplomatic engagements between both countries.
A Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, held talks with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, over the detention of the aircraft and its crew.
The engagement resulted in the immediate release of the aircraft and all 11 personnel. Minister Tuggar later met with the released Air Force members to ascertain their condition, after which the delegation and personnel departed Burkina Faso for Nigeria.
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Nigeria reiterated its commitment to international aviation protocols, expressed respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty, and dismissed allegations of any wrongdoing or mistreatment of personnel.
Both sides acknowledged shared regional security challenges and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining cordial and fraternal relations.
The resolution effectively de-escalated what could have become a diplomatic dispute between the two West African countries.
The Nigerian Air Force aircraft had made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on December 8, 2025, due to a technical fault. Burkina Faso authorities subsequently detained the aircraft and personnel, citing alleged unauthorised entry into the country’s airspace.
