Nigerian Military Officers Detained In Burkina Faso Break Silence, Send Message
- Eleven Nigerian Air Force officers remained detained in Burkina Faso after their aircraft landed in Bobo-Dioulasso last week
- The personnel insisted they were on a routine mission to Portugal and urged the Nigerian government to act swiftly
- Allegations of espionage and airspace violations were dismissed by the officers, who described the claims as false and misleading
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Officers of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) who were detained in Burkina Faso after their landing last week expressed frustration over their continued stay in the country, Daily Trust reported.
The personnel urged the Nigerian government, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to treat the matter with urgency, stressing that their prolonged stay amounted to detention.
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According to Dailytrust, the officers, who spoke anonymously through colleagues on December 15, maintained that they were on an official mission to Portugal and insisted that the government must act faster to secure their release.
11 Nigerian Air Force personnel held in Burkina Faso
No fewer than 11 NAF officers were detained in Burkina Faso last week over alleged violations of the country’s airspace. Burkinabe authorities claimed the aircraft was forced to land after the violation.
However, NAF officials confirmed that the aircraft, a C-130, landed in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical concern detected shortly after departing Lagos. They explained that the landing was precautionary and not forced.
Officers dismiss espionage allegations
Speaking through colleagues, the detained officers rejected claims of espionage, SIGINT operations, or foreign sponsorship. One officer said:
“The claims circulating regarding an alleged clandestine intelligence operation involving a Nigerian military aircraft in Burkina Faso are entirely false, misleading and unsupported by facts.”
He explained that the aircraft was on a duly authorised ferry flight to Portugal for scheduled depot maintenance, a routine requirement for military transport aircraft. He added that the landing was initiated strictly on safety grounds and in line with international aviation procedures.
The officer further stated:
“At no time was the aircraft intercepted, forced to land or found operating without authorisation, and claims of airspace violation or hostile intent are fabrications intended to misinform and inflame public sentiment.”
He emphasised that the personnel on board were standard aircrew and mission-support officers, not intelligence operatives, and that the aircraft was not equipped with surveillance systems.
Ministry of Foreign affairs responds
Reacting to the matter, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the officers remained detained.
He disclosed that the acting Ambassador had travelled to Burkina Faso on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, to see the officers but was barred by Burkinabe authorities.
Ebienfa said:
“Yes, they are still detained. They have not been released. Are they aware that the acting ambassador has been there to see them and he was not allowed to see them? He was there since Wednesday to see them but he wasn’t allowed to see them. He was in Bobo-Dioulasso to see them. Why will they say the ministry is not fair? Many meetings have been held with the Burkinabe authorities to release them.”
He added that discussions were ongoing to secure their release before Christmas, while directing further enquiries to Defence Headquarters.
Growing concerns over detention
The detained officers expressed fears that they might spend Christmas and New Year in detention in Burkina Faso. They accused the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of slow action, saying:
“They’re still in detention in Burkina Faso. 11 of them are likely to celebrate their Christmas and New Year in detention in a foreign land. The MFA hasn’t been doing so well to get them released. They may be doing something but such action is not swift as expected.”
The detention of Nigerian Air Force officers in Burkina Faso has sparked concerns over diplomatic relations and raised questions about the handling of the matter by Nigerian authorities.
While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that efforts were ongoing, the officers continued to call for urgent intervention to secure their release.
Source: Twitter
Benin Republic: Nigerian senate approves troops deployment
Legit.ng earlier reported that the Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin.
The move came in response to last weekend’s attempted coup in the neighbouring country, which raised fears of instability across West Africa. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval on Tuesday during plenary.
Lawmakers considered the request in the Committee of the Whole in line with section 5, Part 11 of the Constitution. The Senators unanimously voted in favour of the deployment, giving legislative backing to the regional security intervention.
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Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
