The Nigerian Air Force C-130 crew earlier detained in Burkina Faso has resumed its mission to Portugal with the same aircraft following their release on Thursday.
The crew, made up of 11 Nigerian personnel, was en route to Portugal for scheduled aircraft maintenance when the aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025. The landing was described as a precautionary measure after a technical issue was detected mid-flight.
According to the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, the crew was able to continue its journey after diplomatic engagements between Nigerian and Burkinabè authorities. He confirmed this in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Ebienfa explained that the crew’s release followed diplomatic interventions by a high-powered Nigerian delegation dispatched to Burkina Faso by President Bola Tinubu. The delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and included the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed; the Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal A. Y. Abdullahi; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Olawale Awe; and the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Wahab Akande.
Following the successful diplomatic engagement, the aircraft and its crew were cleared to depart Burkina Faso and proceed to Portugal to complete their original mission.
