Burkina Faso has released 11 officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who were held following an incident involving a Nigerian military aircraft, bringing an end to nine days of diplomatic engagement between both countries.
The personnel, made up of pilots and crew members, were freed after a high-level delegation from Nigeria held talks with Burkinabè authorities in Ouagadougou.
The delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and included senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as top officers from the Nigerian Air Force.
During the meeting, the Nigerian delegation met with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, to resolve the matter through dialogue and reaffirm the long-standing relationship between the two West African neighbours.
Briefing journalists after the engagement, Ambassador Tuggar said discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing the circumstances surrounding the Nigerian aircraft, which reportedly made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso.
He acknowledged that there were lapses in the required clearance procedures for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace and conveyed Nigeria’s regret over the situation.
The minister stressed that Nigeria respected Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and remained committed to international aviation regulations.
Tuggar also clarified that the Federal Government did not endorse comments credited to a Nigerian political party official alleging poor treatment of the detained personnel.
He said Nigeria formally distanced itself from the remarks and tendered an apology to the Burkinabè government.
Commending the authorities in Burkina Faso, the minister praised President Traoré and his administration for what he described as a spirit of brotherhood and for the manner in which the Nigerian military personnel were treated while in custody.
Beyond the immediate issue, Tuggar said the talks also addressed broader regional security concerns, particularly the fight against terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel.
He noted that Burkina Faso had made significant progress in its counter-terrorism efforts.
The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continued dialogue, regional cooperation and collective action with Burkina Faso and other neighbouring countries to confront shared security challenges across the sub-region.
