Photo caption: Nigerian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar and the Air Force personnel
*Secures freedom of detained 11 air force personnel and aircraft
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
The Nigerian government has officially apologized to Burkina Faso for violating its airspace.
According to report by Independent Reporters, the Federal Government sent a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, to the Presidential Palace of Burkina Faso for talks with President Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
President Captain Ibrahim Traoré received the Nigerian delegation, headed by Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
During the meeting, the Nigerian minister conveyed a message of “cooperation” from President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to his counterpart, Captain Traoré.
The discussions are expected to resolve the recent tensions between Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
Following the apology, the Nigerian air force personnel detained alongside the aircraft have been released.
According to report by The Whistler, Burkina Faso has freed 11 Nigerian air force personnel, aircraft after 9-day detention
The Whistler reported that after nine days, Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft along with 11 pilots and crew members following high-level diplomatic talks led by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, in Ouagadougou.
The breakthrough followed a Nigerian delegation’s engagement with Burkina Faso’s military leadership, including junta leader President Ibrahim Traoré.
The delegation, mandated by President Bola Tinubu, comprised senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and NAF Headquarters, and pursued what officials described as a peaceful, dialogue-driven resolution.
According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, who cited a senior official familiar with the mission, discussions centred on de-escalation, confidence-building and the release of the detained personnel, while reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to international aviation rules, military protocols and regional cooperation.
The visit, the official said, shows Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and its desire to strengthen trust in addressing the Sahel’s complex security challenges.
The incident occurred after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso. Burkinabè authorities initially described the landing as a violation of sovereignty, citing a lack of prior airspace clearance, and detained the 11 military personnel on board.
The Nigerian Air Force maintained that the landing was a precautionary safety measure prompted by a technical issue and carried out in line with standard procedures and international aviation protocols.
Speaking after the talks, Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso shared longstanding ties and common security concerns, stressing that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and good-neighbour relations.
“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” the minister said.
Tuggar acknowledged procedural irregularities in the aircraft’s authorisation process and expressed Nigeria’s regret over the incident, while emphasising Nigeria’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation norms.
He also distanced the Federal Government from comments by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of the detained personnel.
“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” he said.
This came against a backdrop of coups, political instability and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
These have strained relations with countries, including Nigeria, that remain within the bloc.
Commenting on the development on the Facebook page, Ola Samuel, said “ood one. Thinking of any other step will not work. Peace talk is the best. Nigeria is guilty of this so high level of diplomacy must be applied to get our men out in peace.”
Lamidi Ismaila said “Nigeria mature more than to allow premature country that always believes in war, what will be our gain by wasting money on war while hunger is killing people, the diplomatic understanding is the best thanks for your efforts.”
Ishaya Chindo Wakili said, “This is wise approach not all thing that action will work I hope there visit will yield a good results that will lead to release of the eleven detained army.”
For Fanus Sunday, “That’s the only way out and stop giving us fake news just like the previous news which president said the have been released.”
