Uncertainty continues to surround the fate of the 11 soldiers and the aircraft detained in Burkina Faso, as conflicting reports emerge over claims that they have departed for Portugal. The Federal Government has acknowledged that it is yet to confirm the current status of both the personnel and the aircraft.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that although the Burkinabè authorities have released the personnel and the aircraft, it remains unclear whether they have actually departed from Burkina Faso.
After their release by Burkinabè authorities, Nigerian soldiers were set to fly to Portugal, but their aircraft developed a technical fault, delaying departure. At the time of reporting, it was unclear if they had left Burkina Faso.
The soldiers’ release followed a high-level Nigerian delegation’s meeting with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, which resolved tensions and emphasized stronger bilateral cooperation.
The delegation was led by Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and included top officials from Nigeria’s intelligence, military, and diplomatic corps.
Nigerian soldiers were held for over 10 days after their C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical failure while on a ferry mission to Portugal.
Authorities in Burkina Faso alleged that the aircraft entered their airspace without authorization, sparking a diplomatic row with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Mali and Niger.
AES condemned the incident as an unfriendly act, stating that the air forces of member states had been placed on maximum alert and authorized to neutralize any aircraft violating the confederation’s airspace.