Burkina Faso Frees 11 Nigerian Air Force Personnel After High-Level Diplomatic Talks
Burkina Faso has freed 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members who were held for nine days, following sustained diplomatic engagement by the Federal Government of Nigeria, PulseNets learned.
The development came after a high-powered Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, held closed-door talks with Burkinabè authorities in Ouagadougou, including President Ibrahim Traoré. PulseNets learnt that the delegation comprised top officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, with a clear mandate to resolve the matter amicably through diplomatic dialogue.
Speaking shortly after the engagement, Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso share deep historical ties and common security interests, stressing that the discussions were focused on strengthening mutual trust and good neighbourliness.
“We exchanged views on cooperation across several critical sectors, and we also addressed the issue of the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” the minister said.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, Tuggar acknowledged lapses in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace. He conveyed Nigeria’s regret over the incident while reaffirming Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and adherence to international aviation regulations.
The foreign affairs minister also distanced the Nigerian government from comments attributed to a local political party official, who had alleged that Nigerian military personnel were mistreated while in detention.
“We categorically dissociate ourselves from those statements and convey our sincere apologies to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar stated.
PulseNets reported that the minister commended President Traoré and his administration for their show of brotherhood and the humane treatment extended to the Nigerian Air Force personnel throughout their stay in Burkina Faso.
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Beyond the immediate incident, discussions between both sides also covered broader regional security concerns, particularly the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. Tuggar noted that Burkina Faso has recorded measurable gains in its counter-terrorism operations, a point acknowledged during the talks.
He further reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to continuous engagement, regional cooperation, and collective security efforts with Burkina Faso and other countries in the sub-region to confront shared security threats.
