By Ibrahim Muhammad
Burkina Faso has released the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew detained after their aircraft made a forced landing in the country.
The release followed high-level diplomatic engagement initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who dispatched a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to Ouagadougou to meet Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
In a statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson to the minister, the two sides said they had “amicably resolved the issue concerning the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.”
The military personnel were detained for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act” allegedly carried out in defiance of international law.
However, the Nigerian Air Force explained that the crew encountered a technical fault that necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield in Burkina Faso. The NAF stressed that the decision was taken in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Abdulkadir said the meeting also provided an opportunity for Tuggar to convey President Tinubu’s message of solidarity and fraternity to Captain Traoré.
He added that discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations and deepening regional integration, particularly in political, security and economic cooperation.
According to the statement, both sides underscored the need for coordinated responses to regional security challenges and collective action through existing sub-regional frameworks.
“Both parties agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, reflecting a shared commitment to peace, unity and stability in the sub-region,” Abdulkadir said.
