A Nigerian military aircraft and its crew, detained by authorities in Burkina Faso over allegations of airspace violation, have been released following diplomatic engagements between the countries.
The aircraft and its personnel were formally handed over on Saturday, December 20, 2025, to Ghana’s Special Envoy for the Sahel, Lt. Col. (Rtd.) Larry Gbevlo Lartey, acting on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama.
In a statement, Ghana’s Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said Lt. Col. Gbevlo Lartey received the crew on President Mahama’s behalf and praised both the Nigerian and Burkinabe governments for resolving the issue amicably through dialogue. He described the development as a reflection of strong fraternal ties in West Africa and an example of how regional disputes can be settled peacefully.
The Nigerian crew will remain in Ghana temporarily to rest, carry out technical checks on the aircraft, and await clearance to continue their journey to Portugal, where the aircraft is scheduled for routine maintenance.
The incident dates back to December 8, 2025, when two flight crew members and nine passengers aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft were detained after making an emergency landing in Burkina Faso. Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, later confirmed that sustained diplomatic engagement helped resolve the matter, underscoring the effectiveness of diplomacy in handling sensitive security issues.
Burkina Faso’s military-led government, headed by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, released the personnel after meetings with a Nigerian delegation. According to the Nigerian Air Force, the aircraft was en route to Portugal for scheduled maintenance when it was forced to land in western Burkina Faso due to an emergency, a move it said complied with international aviation safety standards.
The emergency landing heightened regional tensions, prompting the Alliance of Sahel States—comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—to place its air and air defence systems on high alert.
