Eleven Nigerian military personnel, including two pilots and nine officers, continue to be held in Burkina Faso following their detention earlier this week.
Confirming the situation, Mali’s Minister of Security and Civil Protection, Daoud Aly Mohammedine, told the BBC that investigations into the matter are still underway. “On the directives of the Heads of State, the air and anti-aircraft defence of the confederate airspace has been placed on maximum alert,” he said. Mohammedine added that, per the declaration issued by the College of Heads of State on December 22, 2024, any aircraft violating the confederate airspace may now be neutralized.
Meanwhile, Nigerian authorities are actively pursuing diplomatic channels to ensure the safe release of their personnel and the return of the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft involved.
Speaking to journalists, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that discussions between Nigeria and Burkina Faso are ongoing. “Our primary objective is the safe release of the crew and the return of the aircraft. We are focused on diplomacy, and while talks are progressing, no specific timeline for resolution has been established,” he said.
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The incident underscores the tense security dynamics in the region and highlights the urgency with which Nigerian authorities are engaging their counterparts to resolve the standoff peacefully.
