The Federal Government has confirmed that talks are ongoing regarding the detention of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel, noting that they have yet to be released by authorities in Burkina Faso.
The aircraft and its crew were seized on Monday after making what the Nigerian Air Force described as a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
The plane, which was en route to Portugal for maintenance, reportedly landed due to technical faults.
However, the governments of Burkina Faso and the Confederation of Sahel States claimed the crew had entered their airspace without clearance, prompting the forced landing of the Hercules aircraft.
Speaking on the matter yesterday, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the federal government is engaging with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue diplomatically.
“We are engaging them, but they are yet to be released,” Ebienfa stated. He further explained that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had taken over negotiations to ensure the safe return of both the aircraft and the Nigerian military personnel.
Following the takeover of discussions, the Nigerian Air Force has remained silent on the incident.
While the ministry has not disclosed details of the ongoing talks, Vanguard reached out to retired NAF pilots for insight into the implications of detaining a military aircraft during an emergency.
Those contacted cautioned against speculation, emphasizing that the situation remains under negotiation.
“In such situations when the facts of the discussions are not made clear yet, assuming a conclusion may jeopardise the government-to-government discussion and lead to some avoidable risks. So I advise we wait for the outcome of the negotiation,” one retired officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
Burkina Faso and other Sahel nations, including Mali and Niger, former ECOWAS members suspended following military coups, might be using the detention as leverage.
“My observation is that the blockade of trade, movement of goods and services by ECOWAS, which these three countries feel is under Nigeria’s control, is seriously hurting them and has worsened their economic situation. Don’t forget that France no longer does business with them, so they are in difficulty.
“They feel the way to break out of the difficult situation they find themselves in is to use Nigeria to negotiate a way out or secure some economic assistance or relief by bargaining with the military aircraft. But we will see how it goes. That’s my personal opinion,” another retired officer said.
