By Olawale Lamina
Finally, Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian Air Force, NAF, pilots and crew members exactly nine days after being held and following high-level diplomatic exchanges by the Nigerian authorities, thereby mitigating palpable concerns that had threatened to cause a tense diplomatic conflict between the two West African countries.
The Air Force personnel release became a reality shortly after a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, wrapped up deliberations in Ouagadougou, leading also to talks with Burkina Faso’s military leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and NAF Headquarters, were among those in the delegation, whose mandate was to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
A security analyst close to the development, Zagazola Makama, was quoted as saying that the talks focused on de-escalation, confidence-building and securing the release of the detained personnel, as well as reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation rules, military protocols and regional cooperation.
The senior security official stated that the visit serves as an indication of Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and neighbourly engagement, describing it as a deliberate moves towards strengthening trust and reaffirming shared responsibilities in addressing the Sahel’s intricate security challenges.
Military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have withdrawn from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), straining relations with countries like Nigeria that remain committed to the regional bloc.
The detained eleven military personnel were all aboard the Nigerian Air Force C‑130 aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo‑Dioulasso, a move taken without prior airspace clearance, described as a violation of sovereignty.
But, making its defense, the Nigerian Air Force said the landing was a precautionary emergency stop due to a technical issue and was conducted in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Reaction by Burkina Faso’s leadership may have been influenced by tension, most especially, a recent security scares, including a reported failed coup attempt in Benin.
Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar in his comments after the meeting said Nigeria and Burkina Faso maintained longstanding ties and common security concerns, saying that the diplomatic engagement was intended to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries.
Tuggar said: “We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” while noting that procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace was responsible, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident, even as he conveyed Nigeria’s respect for Burkina Faso’s Independence and international aviation protocols.
Turga dissociated the Nigerian authorities from remarks by a political party official, who claimed that Nigerian military personnel were being maltreated in Burkina Faso.
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