- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has secured the release of the 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel detained in Burkina Faso.
NPO Reported that the Air Force personnel were last week apprehended after making an emergency landing in the country.
While confirming the detention of the personnel, the Burkina Faso authority alleged that the Air Force C-130 aircraft entered its airspace without authorisation.
However, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) had attributed the emergency landing to a technical problem noticed on the Portugal-bound aircraft, which was en route to Portugal.
The Federal Government would on Thursday secured the release of the Air Force personnel as a delegate led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, met with the Burkinaso Faso government.
Addressing the Air Force personnel, Tuggar expressed his delight in seeing them safe and sound.
He informed them about the President Bola Tinubu’s concern over their situation and his prompt action to ensure their return back to Nigeria.
“We are so happy and elated to see you good health.
“We bring warm greetings from His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has been very concerned about the situation.
“You are now settled to go back home. We apologise for the inconvenience. It’s good to have good diplomatic relationship. You know Nigeria has no enemy in the world.” Tuggar said.
In response, one of the personnel who spoke on behalf of his colleagues expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for their intervention.
He disclosed that they have been able to fix the aircraft.