Nigerian Military officers detained in Burkina Faso still not released — Tuggar

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, says Nigerian military personnel detained after a forced landing in Burkina Faso remain in custody in the West African nation.

Mr Tuggar disclosed this at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja during a joint press briefing with his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Bakari.

Reports that on Monday, the Confederation of Sahel States, AES — a bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic — accused a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 soldiers of violating Burkinabe airspace.

But the Nigerian government denied the allegation, insisting that the aircraft followed all established procedures.

Providing an update, the minister said diplomatic engagements were ongoing with Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Ibrahim Traoré.

“We are discussing how we can resolve this delicate matter as quickly as possible, and we’re talking. So, it’s something that is being handled diplomatically,” he said.

Asked directly whether the detained soldiers were still being held in Burkina Faso, Mr Tuggar responded: “Yes, they are.”