Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has confirmed that Nigerian Air Force personnel who were previously detained in Burkina Faso have now arrived safely at an Air Force base in Accra, Ghana.
“I can confirm that the pilots and crew of NAF C-130 (913) have safely arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra. The successful outcome reflects Nigeria’s commitment to diplomacy, regional cooperation, and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving sensitive matters through dialogue,” he wrote.
The personnel were detained by Burkina Faso military authorities after their aircraft made a forced landing in the country.
They were released on Wednesday, 17 December, following the intervention of President Tinubu, who dispatched a delegation led by Tuggar to meet with Ibrahim Traoré, leader of the Burkinabé junta.
In a statement, Tuggar’s spokesperson, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said both sides amicably resolved the matter involving the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.
The personnel had been held for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States described the landing as an “unfriendly act” said to be in defiance of international law. The Confederation of Sahel States is a regional bloc formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.
However, the Nigerian Air Force explained that the crew detected a technical issue that required a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, the closest available airfield, in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Talks between Nigerian and Burkinabé officials were held in Ouagadougou on Wednesday as part of efforts to resolve the situation through diplomatic engagement.
Abdulkadir said Tuggar conveyed a message of solidarity from President Tinubu to Traoré, with discussions exploring ways to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen regional cooperation.
He added that the talks focused on improving political, security, and economic collaboration, with particular attention to joint responses to security threats and collective action through existing regional frameworks.
