The Federal Government has confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel by Burkina Faso, stressing that neither the plane nor the soldiers have been released. The aircraft was seized on Monday after making what the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) described as a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso due to technical issues while en route to Portugal for maintenance.
Burkina Faso, alongside the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), claimed the aircraft entered its airspace without proper clearance, prompting the forced landing. Speaking on the matter, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated that the federal government is actively engaging the Burkinabe authorities to secure the safe release of both the aircraft and the personnel. He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had fully taken over the negotiations, while the NAF opted to remain silent on the issue.
Retired NAF officers contacted by Vanguard warned against speculation, noting that commenting prematurely could jeopardize the diplomatic discussions. “In such situations when the facts of the discussions are not made clear yet, assuming a conclusion may jeopardise the government-to-government discussion and lead to some avoidable risks,” one retired officer said.
Vanguard also gathered that Burkina Faso, along with other Sahel states such as Mali and Niger—suspended members of ECOWAS—may be using the detention as leverage. The retired officer suggested that the blockade of trade and economic restrictions in the region, coupled with France halting business relations, has worsened the economic situation, prompting these states to seek negotiation or relief through Nigeria.
The federal government continues to pursue a diplomatic resolution to ensure the safe return of the aircraft and the soldiers.
