Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has confirmed the safe release of the pilots and crew of Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft (NAF 913), who had been detained in Burkina Faso since an emergency landing on December 8.

The personnel have now arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra, Ghana.

Tuggar, in a statement posted on X, said: “The successful outcome reflects Nigeria’s commitment to diplomacy, regional cooperation, and the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in resolving sensitive matters through dialogue.”

The incident began when the transport plane made an unscheduled landing in Bobo-Dioulasso while en route to Portugal for maintenance. Burkina Faso’s ruling junta labelled the landing a “sovereignty violation,” sparking tensions. These were eased after Tuggar’s high-level visit to Ouagadougou on Tuesday, where he conveyed Tinubu’s solidarity to President Ibrahim Traoré.

The crew’s release highlights Tinubu’s balanced approach in West Africa—remaining firm on democratic principles while maintaining pragmatic engagement with military-led neighbours in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). No charges were filed against the crew, though the status of the aircraft remains undisclosed.