Uncertainty persists regarding the status of 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel and a C-130 aircraft detained in Burkina Faso, amid conflicting accounts from Nigerian authorities and foreign reports.
As of 8 pm on Tuesday, senior military officials in Nigeria told Punch that the officers had not been released and the aircraft remained in custody.
“They have not been released. We are still waiting (for their release),” a top military official confirmed.
Another senior officer, who insisted on the legality of the aircraft’s actions, argued that the C-130 was forced to land due to a technical fault.
The source said, “We are still monitoring the situation. Article 25 of the Chicago Convention (1944) requires countries to permit aircraft in distress to land and to provide assistance.
“This is one condition on which military aircraft are allowed to enter foreign airspace without permission. Emergency situations override because the priority is saving lives.”
Contrary to the Nigerian military’s position, a BBC report quoted Burkinabè security sources as saying the detained officers had been “briefly held” and had since been released and allowed to return to Nigeria.
“Eleven Nigerian military officers were briefly detained in Burkina Faso after their aircraft made an emergency landing in the country. The soldiers were released and given permission to fly back to Nigeria,” the BBC reported.
