The Federal Government has initiated diplomatic engagement to secure the release of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel detained by Burkina Faso.
The aircraft made a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso due to a technical problem, but authorities under the Confederation of Sahel States, AES, alleged it violated Burkinabe airspace without clearance. Nigeria insists the landing followed international aviation procedures.
Officials told Vanguard that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger may be using the incident to retaliate against Nigeria over ECOWAS actions following coups in their countries. Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa dismissed reports of the crew’s release, saying, “They have not been released as we speak… we are engaging the Burkina Faso authorities using usual diplomatic channels.”
AES described the incident as a breach of sovereignty and warned that further violations would be met with force.