- Burkina Faso Still Detaining NAF Crew And Aircraft – Military Source Confirms
- Burkina Faso accuses Nigerian military plane of entering airspace without approval.
- Foreign Affairs Ministry leads negotiations as embassy engages host authorities.
The Federal Government has intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the release of a Nigerian military aircraft and 11 soldiers currently being held by authorities in Burkina Faso.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the personnel and the C130 aircraft are now in their third day of detention after the Burkinabe military government accused the crew of entering the country’s airspace without authorisation.
Military sources confirmed to The Punch on Wednesday that neither the soldiers nor the aircraft had been released, noting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had taken over the matter.
“They have not been released yet. The matter is now being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We hope they will be released soon with their intervention,” a military source said.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, also confirmed ongoing discussions between the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou and the Burkinabe authorities.
He said, “The Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou is engaging with the host authorities to secure their release.”
Earlier reports on Tuesday indicated that the Government of Burkina Faso accused a Nigerian Air Force C130 aircraft carrying 11 soldiers of entering its airspace without clearance, prompting authorities to force the plane to land.
The incident was reported by the state-run Agence d’Information du Burkina, which cited a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States.
According to the statement, an investigation established “the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”
The AES added, “The AES condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member States.”
The situation remains tense as diplomatic channels work to resolve the standoff.
