By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria
The Federal Government has confirmed that Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew earlier detained in Burkina Faso have arrived safely at an Air Force Base in Accra, Ghana, following diplomatic engagement between both countries.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, disclosed that the pilots and crew of Nigerian Air Force aircraft C-130 with call sign 913 had safely arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra.
He said:I can confirm that the pilots and crew of NAF C-130 (913) have safely arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra.”
The minister further stated that the outcome reflects Nigeria’s commitment to diplomacy, regional cooperation, and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving sensitive matters through dialogue.
Tuggar explained that following his engagement with authorities in Burkina Faso, the pilots and crew were formally cleared to depart and were en route to Portugal via Accra.
Recall that the Nigerian personnel had been detained after their aircraft made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, due to a technical concern.
The Confederation of Sahel States initially described the landing as an unfriendly act, but the Nigerian Air Force maintained that the decision was in line with international aviation safety procedures.
The soldiers were released on Wednesday, December 17, after President Tinubu sent a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to meet with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.
In further remarks, Tuggar paid tribute to President Tinubu, describing his leadership and steady guidance as decisive in resolving the matter through constructive diplomacy and peaceful engagement.
The resolution underscores Nigeria’s diplomatic approach to regional disputes and highlights ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and trust within West Africa, particularly amid shared security challenge
s in the Sahel region.
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