Burkina Faso has released the Nigerian soldiers who were held after their aircraft made an emergency landing in the country.
President Bola Tinubu deployed a delegation led by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, to meet Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s junta leader, on Wednesday.
Alkasim Abdulkadir, Tuggar’s spokesperson, confirmed that both countries reached an amicable solution regarding the Nigerian Air Force crew.
The soldiers had been detained for almost two weeks after the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law”.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said the crew encountered a technical issue that required a precautionary landing at Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest suitable airfield.
NAF stated that the landing followed standard safety procedures and international aviation regulations.
Earlier reports claimed the soldiers had been freed, but Tuggar clarified that they remained in Burkina Faso while efforts continued to resolve the situation.
The discussions between Nigerian and Burkinabe officials took place in Ouagadougou on Wednesday.
Abdulkadir said Tuggar conveyed a message of solidarity and fraternity from Tinubu to Traoré, and both sides explored ways to strengthen bilateral ties and promote regional integration.
He added that the talks focused on enhancing political, security, and economic collaboration, including coordinated strategies to address regional security threats through 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,” Abdulkadir said.
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 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS); and Wahab Akande, chief of protocol at the ministry of foreign affairs.