Burkina Faso has freed 11 Nigerian soldiers along with a Nigerian Air Force aircraft, bringing an end to a 10 day diplomatic standoff triggered by an emergency landing in the West African nation.

The release followed sustained engagements between officials from both countries, according to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While the development eased tensions, Nigerian authorities said arrangements for the soldiers’ return home were still being finalised as of Wednesday night.

Confirmation from Nigerian authorities

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the release in a statement to The PUNCH.

“They have been released. I just confirmed with our Head of Mission in Burkina Faso,” Ebienfa said.

However, he noted that details surrounding the timing of the soldiers’ departure and the movement of the aircraft back to Nigeria were not immediately available.

What led to the detention

The soldiers were detained after a Nigerian Air Force C 130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing in Bobo Dioulasso on December 8. According to military sources, the aircraft developed a technical issue shortly after taking off from Lagos on a ferry mission to Portugal, forcing the crew to divert to the nearest suitable airport.

Burkinabe authorities initially held both the aircraft and its crew, citing alleged violations of national airspace. Officials in Ouagadougou described the landing as a breach of sovereignty, noting that the aircraft reportedly lacked prior clearance to enter Burkinabe airspace.

Investigations were later conducted by Burkinabe officials alongside the Confederation of Sahel States, which reportedly upheld the claim of missing authorisation.

Diplomatic pressure and high level talks

Meanwhile, Nigeria moved quickly to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels. President Bola Tinubu authorised high level engagement with the Burkinabe government, dispatching the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, to Ouagadougou as a Special Envoy.

Ebienfa said the Nigerian Chargé d’Affaires in Burkina Faso had been in constant contact with the host authorities, working alongside the presidential intervention to secure the soldiers’ release.

“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,” he said earlier. “We are optimistic that the matter will be resolved soonest.”

Diplomatic sources say the talks focused on de escalation, technical clarifications around the flight, and broader regional cooperation at a time when security relations in the Sahel remain sensitive.

Military assurances and domestic reaction

Throughout the detention, the Nigerian Air Force maintained that the crew was safe and treated courteously by Burkinabe authorities. The Air Force stressed that the precautionary landing was carried out in line with international aviation standards and established safety procedures.

According to defence body, emergency diversions without prior clearance, while legally complex, are not uncommon in aviation and are typically resolved through diplomatic and technical reviews rather than prolonged detention.

Back home, the incident drew political attention. On Tuesday, Nigeria’s House of Representatives raised concerns over the continued detention of the soldiers and called on the executive to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure their freedom.

With the soldiers and aircraft now released, attention turns to their return to Nigeria and the broader implications for Nigeria Burkina Faso relations. The episode underscores the importance of clearer military flight coordination in the region, especially as countries navigate strained security environments and shifting alliances in the Sahel.

For now, officials say communication between Abuja and Ouagadougou remains open, with both sides keen to put the incident behind them.