READ ALSO: Burkina Faso grounds Nigerian aircraft, detains military personnel over airspace violations
The Federal Government has confirmed the release of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 soldiers earlier detained in Burkina Faso following a precautionary landing.
Speaking on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said both the aircraft and its personnel had been freed.
The confirmation followed a diplomatic visit by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, who met with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on Wednesday. Tuggar led a Nigerian delegation on the mission, saying the visit was initiated by President Bola Tinubu.
The military aircraft was forced to land in Bobo Dioulasso nearly two weeks ago while ferrying troops to Portugal. According to the Nigerian Air Force, a technical fault prompted the crew to carry out a precautionary landing in accordance with global aviation procedures.
Earlier, Mali’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, speaking on behalf of the Confederation of Sahel States, had criticised the landing as an “unfriendly act” and claimed it violated international law, warning that member nations had the right to neutralise any aircraft breaching their airspace
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