The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday confirmed that 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel and a C-130 aircraft detained in Burkina Faso have not yet been released, as diplomatic discussions remain ongoing.
Speaking on the development, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the Federal Government was actively engaging with the Burkina Faso authorities to resolve the matter amicably.
“We are engaging them, but they are yet to be released,” Ebienfa told Sunday PUNCH.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had fully taken over the negotiations to secure the release of both the detained military personnel and the aircraft.
While the ministry declined to disclose further details on the circumstances surrounding the detention, it assured that discussions were being handled through appropriate diplomatic channels.
The Nigerian Air Force personnel were detained last week after their aircraft reportedly made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso amid airspace violation claims by the host country.
The Confederation of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, accused Nigeria of violating Burkinabe airspace, describing the aircraft’s landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law.”
The AES also authorised member states to neutralise any unauthorised aircraft within their airspace.