EXCLUSIVE: Diplomacy Wins As Burkina Faso Frees 11 Nigerian Air Force Personnel After High-Level Talks

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members, nine days after their detention, following intensive diplomatic engagements by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The release came shortly after a Nigerian delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, concluded high-level meetings in Ouagadougou with Burkinabè authorities, including President Ibrahim Traoré.

The delegation, which included senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, as well as the NAF Headquarters, was mandated to pursue a peaceful resolution through dialogue and confidence-building engagement.

A senior official familiar with the mission told Zagazola Makama that the talks focused on de-escalating tensions, securing the release of the detained personnel and reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to regional cooperation and respect for international aviation and military protocols.

“The visit underscored Nigeria’s preference for diplomacy and neighbourly engagement. It was a confidence-building mission aimed at strengthening trust and reinforcing shared responsibilities in tackling the complex security challenges facing the Sahel,” the source said.

The Nigerian delegation also reiterated Abuja’s long-standing commitment to regional security collaboration, dialogue and adherence to international norms, highlighting decades of cooperation between Nigeria, Burkina Faso and other Sahelian partners.

Nigeria and Burkina Faso have historically worked together in security training, intelligence sharing and regional stabilisation, particularly in combating terrorism and violent extremism across West Africa.

Officials expressed optimism that the peaceful resolution of the incident would further deepen bilateral ties and strengthen collective efforts toward peace, stability and security in the region.