Eleven Nigerian Air Force personnel and their aircraft have departed Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso following their release after a 10-day detention, marking the end of a diplomatic incident triggered by an emergency landing.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed the takeoff to journalists in Abuja on Friday, praising the efforts of Nigerian diplomatic staff. “The Nigerian military aircraft and 11 crew members have taken off from Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, a few minutes ago. Bravo to the Embassy of Nigeria in Burkina Faso and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja,” he stated.
Ebienfa further explained that the flight plan had been adjusted due to airspace restrictions. The aircraft will first land in Ghana before proceeding to Portugal, its original destination, after authorities denied permission to overfly Malian airspace.
The crew’s ordeal began on 8 December 2025 when the aircraft, which had departed Lagos en route to Portugal, made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical fault. Burkina Faso’s military authorities detained the personnel and impounded the aircraft, citing an alleged violation of national airspace and describing the incident as a breach of sovereignty.
Investigations by Burkinabe officials and the Confederation of Sahel States reportedly established that the flight lacked prior authorisation to enter Burkina Faso’s airspace.
Diplomatic engagement followed swiftly. President Bola Tinubu dispatched a high-level delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar to Ouagadougou for direct talks with Burkinabe counterparts. On Wednesday evening, Ebienfa confirmed the breakthrough, informing The PUNCH that the soldiers had been released following verification from Nigeria’s Head of Mission in Burkina Faso.
Throughout the detention, the Nigerian Air Force maintained that the crew remained safe and were treated with courtesy. It stressed that the precautionary landing complied fully with international aviation safety procedures and protocols.
The resolution highlights the effectiveness of quiet diplomacy in addressing sensitive regional incidents, particularly amid strained relations between Nigeria and some Sahel states following recent political changes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
