By SUNTV Global Channel | December 18, 2025
Burkina Faso has released detained Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members following high-level diplomatic intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, easing rising tensions between Nigeria and the Sahelian bloc.
The release came after President Tinubu dispatched a special delegation, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, to Ouagadougou for closed-door talks with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré. The meeting, held on Wednesday, was aimed at resolving the dispute surrounding a Nigerian military aircraft that made a forced landing in the country.
According to a statement issued by Alkasim Abdulkadir, spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister, the Nigerian and Burkinabè authorities amicably resolved the matter, leading to the release of the air force personnel who had been held for nearly two weeks.
The detention had followed accusations by the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which alleged that the aircraft’s landing constituted an unfriendly act and a violation of international law, sparking diplomatic unease between Abuja and the Sahelian alliance.
However, the Nigerian Air Force firmly rejected the claims, explaining that the aircraft developed a technical fault mid-flight and was forced to make a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, identified as the nearest safe airfield. The NAF maintained that the decision complied fully with international aviation regulations and standard safety procedures.
Sources familiar with the talks said Minister Tuggar conveyed a message of “solidarity and fraternity” from President Tinubu to Captain Traoré, underscoring Nigeria’s commitment to peaceful dialogue and regional stability.
Beyond resolving the immediate crisis, the discussions reportedly focused on strengthening political, security and economic cooperation between Nigeria and Burkina Faso, particularly as insecurity continues to worsen across the Sahel.
“Both sides agreed to sustain regular consultations and pursue practical steps to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration, reflecting a shared commitment to peace, unity and stability in the sub-region,” Abdulkadir said.
The Nigerian delegation included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mohammed Mohammed; Air Vice Marshal A.Y. Abdullahi, Chief of Policy and Plans at the NAF; Ambassador Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS; and Wahab Akande, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The release of the detained NAF crew appears to have defused a potentially serious diplomatic standoff, coming at a sensitive time when relations between ECOWAS member states and the AES bloc remain fragile.
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