Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian soldiers who were held for nearly two weeks following the forced landing of their military aircraft in the West African nation, diplomatic sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The release came after Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, led a high-powered delegation to meet with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in the Burkinabe capital, Ouagadougou.
According to a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson to the minister, the talks resolved the standoff amicably, paving the way for the soldiers’ safe return to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had earlier explained that the aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical fault, insisting that the action complied fully with international aviation safety protocols.
Nonetheless, the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) described the incident as an unfriendly act and a violation of international law, prompting the detention.
Tuggar’s delegation included key security and diplomatic officials, such as Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency; A.Y. Abdullahi, Chief of Policy and Plans at the NAF; and Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS.
Abdulkadir said Tuggar delivered a message of solidarity from President Bola Tinubu to Traoré, while both sides discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
The discussions focused on political, security, and economic collaboration, with particular attention to joint efforts in addressing regional security threats.
“Both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen cooperation and integration, reflecting a shared resolve to promote peace, unity, and stability in the sub-region,” Abdulkadir added.
The soldiers’ release is being hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough and highlights the critical role of dialogue and cooperation in resolving security incidents in West Africa.
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