The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft and its crew, earlier detained in Burkina Faso, have resumed their journey to Portugal.
The aircraft, carrying 11 Nigerian personnel, was on a scheduled mission for routine maintenance when it made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025, following a technical issue.
Confirming the development on Saturday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the aircraft continued its mission after diplomatic engagements between Nigerian and Burkina Faso authorities.
The release of the aircraft and crew was facilitated by the intervention of a high-powered delegation dispatched by President Bola Tinubu.
The delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed; the Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal A. Y. Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Olawale Awe; and the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Wahab Akande.