Nigeria’s federal government says it is intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Nigerian soldiers and the C-130 military aircraft currently held in Burkina Faso.
According to local media reports, the soldiers and the aircraft, now on their third day in detention, were seized by the Burkina Faso military government over alleged violations of the Sahel country’s airspace.
On Wednesday, sources in the Nigerian military said that the soldiers and aircraft were still in detention and the matter was now being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They have not been released yet. The matter is now being handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We hope they will be released soon with their intervention,” one source said.
Confirming the ministry’s involvement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said that the Nigerian Embassy had initiated talks with the Burkina Faso government.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou is engaging with the host authorities to secure their release,” he said.
In will be recalled that the Government of Burkina Faso had said that a Nigerian Air Force aircraft carrying 11 soldiers was forced to land in the country on Monday after reportedly violating its airspace.
However, the Nigerian Air Force issued a press statement saying that the personnel on board the C-130 aircraft that landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, were safe and receiving cordial treatment from the Burkinabe authorities.
He explained that the aircraft, which was on a ferry mission to Portugal, made a precautionary landing after the crew detected a technical concern shortly after takeoff from Lagos on December 8, 2025.
According to the statement issued on Tuesday by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the crew diverted to the nearest airfield in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
Ejodame said that plans were underway to resume the mission as scheduled, adding that the Air Force remained committed to strict operational and safety standards.
GIK/APA