Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) have safely arrived in Accra, Ghana, after being held for more than a week by authorities in Burkina Faso, following a diplomatic intervention that secured their release.
Photos and video obtained by First Daily correspondent on Friday night, showed the NAF personnel shortly after landing in Accra.
Our correspondent gathered that arrangements where made for their onward movement back to Nigeria.
The officers were received by Nigerian officials and defence representatives, who facilitated their transit and welfare.
First Daily reported that Burkina Faso authorities had earlier released the 11 Nigerian personnel and the Air Force aircraft, after they were detained following an emergency landing in the Sahel country.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the development to journalists on Wednesday night.
“They have been released. I just confirmed with our Head of Mission in Burkina Faso,” Ebienfa said.
The military personnel had been detained by Burkina Faso’s authorities after their Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, following a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos en route to Portugal.
Burkina Faso authorities initially held the aircraft and its crew over alleged airspace violations, describing the incident as a breach of sovereignty. Investigations by the Confederation of Sahel States and Burkinabe officials reportedly concluded that the aircraft lacked prior authorisation to enter Burkinabe airspace.
Following days of diplomatic engagements, President Bola Tinubu dispatched a Special Envoy to Ouagadougou to engage with Burkinabe authorities.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, was confirmed to be in Ouagadougou as the President’s Special Envoy to facilitate the release of the detained personnel.
READ ALSO: Burkina Faso Releases Detained Nigerian Military Officers After C-130 Emergency Landing
Ebienfa said the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires in Burkina Faso had been engaging the host government, alongside the high-level intervention authorised by the President.
“The Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Burkina Faso has been engaging the host government, and Mr President has also sent a Special Envoy. We are optimistic that the matter will be resolved soonest,” he said earlier.
The Nigerian Air Force had repeatedly assured that the crew remained safe and were treated courteously during their detention, emphasising that the precautionary landing was conducted in line with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
The aircraft was reportedly on a ferry mission to Portugal when it detected a technical issue shortly after take-off, prompting the crew to divert to the nearest airfield.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives had raised concerns over the continued detention of the soldiers and urged diplomatic efforts to secure their release.
