Nigerian Air Force pilots continue journey to Portugal after release in Burkina Faso

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 crew, earlier detained in Burkina Faso has resumed its mission to Portugal with the same aircraft.

The 11-member crew was en route to Portugal for scheduled aircraft maintenance when it made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso.

The aircraft landed in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025, as a precautionary measure after a technical issue.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, said the aircraft and crew would proceed to Portugal as originally planned.

“They are not coming to Nigeria, but proceeding to Portugal for the servicing of the aircraft. Will leave for Portugal today,” Ebienfa said.

Ebienfa said the release of the crew followed diplomatic interventions by a high-powered Nigerian delegation sent to Burkina Faso by President Bola Tinubu.

The delegation was led by Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs. Other members included Mohammed Mohammed, Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, A. Y. Abdullahi, Chief of Policy and Plans at the NAF, Olawale Awe, Nigeria’s permanent representative to ECOWAS, and Wahab Akande, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Burkina Faso released the NAF aircraft and the 11 personnel on Wednesday.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, spokesman of NAF, said the aircraft landed at the nearest airfield in line with international aviation safety protocols.

Their release followed a meeting between the Nigerian delegation led by Tuggar and Ibrahim Traoré, Burkina Faso’s junta leader, in Ouagadougou.