Burkina Faso has freed 11 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who were detained on 8 December 2025 after their military aircraft made an emergency landing in the country, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar has confirmed. The releases mark the resolution of a diplomatic impasse that had strained relations between the two West African neighbours.
The detained group included two flight crew members and nine passengers aboard a C‑130 transport aircraft that diverted to Burkina Faso’s Bobo‑Dioulasso airfield while en route to Portugal for scheduled maintenance, citing technical difficulties. Burkina Faso’s military regime initially held the personnel, sparking concerns in Abuja and prompting swift diplomatic engagement.
A high‑level Nigerian delegation, led by Minister Tuggar, held talks in Ouagadougou with Burkina Faso’s transitional leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré. Following sustained dialogue, the Burkinabè authorities agreed to release the air force crew and allow them to return to Nigeria. Tuggar described the outcome as testament to the effectiveness of diplomacy in resolving sensitive military and bilateral matters.
In a joint statement, Nigeria and Burkina Faso also agreed to regular consultations and enhanced bilateral cooperation, signalling a shared interest in strengthening ties and regional stability despite occasional tensions. The aircraft and its crew are expected to resume their planned mission to Portugal as scheduled.
The incident occurred against a backdrop of evolving regional dynamics, including Nigeria’s role in responding to the attempted coup in neighbouring Benin and shifting alignments within the Sahel security landscape.
