BREAKING: Jubilation As Tinubu’s Team Secures Release Of 11 Detained NAF Personnel

Following the successful securing of their release from Burkina Faso under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim Traoré, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with the released officers.

The NAF personnel had spent 10 days in detention in the West African country after their aircraft made an emergency landing.

Confirmation of their release came on Wednesday night through a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

The personnel were detained after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8 due to a technical fault shortly after departing Lagos on a flight bound for Portugal.

Burkinabe authorities initially impounded the aircraft and detained its crew over alleged violations of the country’s airspace, citing a breach of sovereignty. Investigations by officials of the Confederation of Sahel States and Burkina Faso reportedly found that the aircraft did not have prior clearance to enter Burkinabe airspace.

After several days of diplomatic negotiations, President Tinubu sent a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage Burkinabe authorities, a move that ultimately led to the release of the detained personnel.