By Ayomide Otitoju
Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members nine days after their detention, following high-level diplomatic intervention by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The personnel were freed shortly after a Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, concluded diplomatic engagements with Burkinabè authorities in Ouagadougou, including discussions with President Ibrahim Traoré.
The delegation comprised senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters. It was mandated to pursue a peaceful and constructive resolution to the matter through dialogue.
A senior official familiar with the mission said the engagement was aimed at fostering mutual understanding, de-escalating tensions and securing the release of the detained NAF personnel, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation and compliance with international aviation and military protocols.
According to the source, the mission underscored Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and good neighbourly relations, describing the visit as a confidence-building effort to strengthen trust and reinforce shared responsibilities in addressing the complex security challenges confronting the Sahel region.
