Confusion continues to surround the status of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft that made a precautionary landing in Burkina Faso earlier this week, with conflicting reports emerging from Nigerian and Burkinabe sources.
Initial reports on Wednesday indicated that the aircraft’s 11 military personnel — two crew members and nine passengers — had been released and had returned to Nigeria following brief questioning by Burkinabe authorities. However, fresh information from diplomatic sources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests otherwise.
According to a report by Vanguard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said earlier claims that the aircraft and its personnel had been released were incorrect. The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the soldiers remained in Burkina Faso, adding that Nigeria was engaging Ouagadougou “through usual diplomatic channels” to secure their release.
“They have not been released as we speak,” he said, noting that the federal government was unaware of the reason for the delay but expressed confidence that diplomatic efforts would resolve the stalemate.
Sources told Vanguard that the aircraft, which NAF says made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso after detecting a technical issue, had been prepared to resume its journey to Portugal on Tuesday but was prevented from departing amid mixed signals from Burkinabe officials.
Burkina Faso, alongside Mali and Niger under the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), maintains that the aircraft entered its airspace without prior authorisation, describing the incident as a “breach of national sovereignty.” The AES accused Nigeria of attempting to violate security protocols and said its air and anti-aircraft units had been placed on alert.
In contrast, NAF has insisted that the crew acted strictly in line with international aviation standards, emphasising that the personnel received “cordial treatment” from Burkinabe authorities and that plans were initially underway to continue the mission.
Several reputable news organisations like Dailypost, The Guardian, however, reported a sharply different development, stating that the 11 detained officers had been freed and had already returned to Nigeria after being cleared of any suspicion, including alleged links to the recent failed coup attempt in Benin Republic.
As of Thursday morning, the Nigerian Air Force has remained silent, issuing no official update to clarify whether the personnel have indeed been released or remain detained.
The uncertainty has fueled public speculation and raised concerns about Nigeria’s strained relations with the AES bloc, which has been at odds with ECOWAS and, by extension, Nigeria following its withdrawal from the regional body.
For now, the aircraft's status and that of its crew remain unclear, with diplomats working behind the scenes and journalists relying on conflicting accounts from multiple sides.
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