IN REVIEW: Burkina Faso Releases Detained Nigerian Airforce Crew

By Michael Ehindero
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar & Released Airforce Crew

_____

Nigeria has secured the release of 11 Nigerian Air Force pilots and crew members, along with their military aircraft, following high-level diplomatic talks with authorities in Burkina Faso.

A Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, met with Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on Wednesday, conveying a message of solidarity from President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the pilots and crew were released on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

The personnel and their aircraft had been detained by Burkina Faso’s military authorities after the jet made what Nigeria described as an emergency landing due to technical issues while en route to Portugal.

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