The release came shortly after a high-level Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, met with Burkinabè authorities in Ouagadougou, including President Ibrahim Traoré. The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and NAF Headquarters, and was tasked with resolving the situation peacefully through dialogue.
Speaking after the meeting, Tuggar said Nigeria and Burkina Faso share longstanding ties and common security concerns, noting that the engagement was aimed at reinforcing mutual understanding and good neighbourly relations.
“We exchanged views on cooperation in several sectors. We also discussed the Nigerian aircraft that made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso,” he said.
The minister acknowledged procedural irregularities in the authorisation process for the aircraft’s entry into Burkina Faso’s airspace, expressing Nigeria’s regret over the incident while emphasising Abuja’s respect for Burkina Faso’s sovereignty and international aviation protocols.
He also distanced the Federal Government from remarks made by a Nigerian political party official alleging maltreatment of Nigerian military personnel in Burkina Faso.
“We clearly dissociate ourselves from those comments and express our sincere regrets to the government of Burkina Faso,” Tuggar said.
He commended President Traoré and his government for their spirit of fraternity and the treatment accorded to the aircraft’s occupants during their stay in Burkina Faso.
Tuggar added that discussions also covered broader regional efforts to tackle terrorism and violent extremism.
