Burkina Faso has released the Nigerian soldiers who were detained after their aircraft was forced to land in the Sahelian country.
The soldiers were released after President Bola Tinubu sent a delegation led by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, to meet with Ibrahim Traoré, Burkin Faso’s junta leader, on Wednesday.
A statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, said both sides amicably resolved the issue concerning the Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew.
The soldiers were detained for nearly two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law”.
But the air force said the crew observed a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, a city in Burkina Faso, with the nearest airfield.
NAF said the landing was in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Last week, there were unconfirmed reports that Burkinabe authorities released the Nigerian soldiers.
However, Tuggar told TheCable that the military personnel were still in the Sahelian country, adding that efforts were ongoing to resolve the situation quickly.
Wednesday’s talks between Nigerian and Burkinabe officials over the matter were held in Ouagadougou.
Abdulkadir noted that Tuggar delivered a message of solidarity and fraternity from Tinubu to Traoré, as both sides considered avenues for deepening bilateral relations and strengthening integration within the regional bloc.
Abdulkadir said the discussions centred on advancing political, security, and economic cooperation, with particular emphasis on coordinated responses to regional security challenges and collective action through existing sub-regional frameworks.
“Both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, reflecting a shared resolve to promote peace, unity, and stability in the sub-region,” the minister’s aide said in a statement.
Members of the Nigerian delegation included Mohammed Mohammed, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA); A. Y. Abdullahi, chief of policy and plans, NAF; Olawale Awe, permanent representative to Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and Wahab Akande, chief of protocol at the ministry of foreign affairs.
