FG wades in as Burkina Faso refuses to release seized NAF C-130 plane, 11 soldiers

NAF Jet

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in to sort out diplomatic issues around the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft seized by the government of Burkina Faso.

Recall that the Confederation of Sahel States, AES, had in a statement signed by Assimi Goita, the Mali junta leader, alleged that the NAF plane entered the airspace of Burkina Faso without clearance, though NAF said the aircraft made a precautionary landing in Bobo Dioulasso, one of Burkina Faso’s cities, due to a technical problem.

The AES comprises Mali, Burkina Faso and the Niger Republic, being three countries which pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, following the organisation’s opposition to the military coups in the three countries. Sources told Vanguard yesterday that though the NAF aircraft followed due process and international aviation statutes in making the precautionary landing, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are seeing the situation as an opportunity to get back at Nigeria, following her role in the actions taken by the regional bloc which led to their withdrawal from the group.

It was gathered that the situation has prompted high-level diplomatic intervention between Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and officials of the government of Burkina Faso.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stepped in. The aircraft was ready to continue its journey to Portugal on Tuesday but signals from the Burkina Faso officials are unclear. It will be sorted out at the diplomatic level,” a source told Vanguard.

When Vanguard contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment, the spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said earlier reports that the detained Nigerian military aircraft and soldiers had been released were false.“He, however, said that the federal government was engaging its Burkina Faso counterpart diplomatically in order to secure the release of the soldiers and the aircraft.“

“They have not been released as we speak, but we are trying to secure that. We are engaging the Burkina Faso authorities using usual diplomatic channels,” he said.