Nigeria Steps Up Efforts For Release Of Detained Plane, Soldiers In Burkina Faso

The Nigerian government is making an effort to release the country’s military aircraft C1-30 carrying two crew members and nine soldiers that were detained in Burkina Faso, following an emergency landing of the plane in Burkina Faso, which the authorities in Ouagadougou claimed was a violation of the country’s airspace.

This development was a sequel to the fact that Nigeria had reportedly sent the aircraft to attack positions in the Benin Republic to help the country’s President Patrice Talon foil a coup attempt by a group of soldiers on Sunday, and arrested about 14 officers said to have participated in the failed coup.

After reports allegedly emerged that the aircraft and passengers had been released, LEADERSHIP made inquiries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the latest development.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesman, Kimiebi Ebienfa, however, told LEADERSHIP on Wednesday that as of Wednesday, December 10,   the aircraft and soldiers “are currently detained, but the embassy of Nigeria is engaging   the host authorities to secure their release.”

He, however, did not provide further details. Still, sources stated that if not correctly handled, things could deteriorate, as both countries are not in the best of times, especially since Burkina Faso has allegedly threatened to take more strident action in case of further violations of its airspace.

The effort is being made through diplomatic channels, despite the Nigerian government’s rejection of the allegation of violation. The Nigerian Air Force has stated that the aircraft involved made an emergency landing due to a technical fault and had complied fully with airspace procedures.

The eleven passengers and the aircraft were detained following the unscheduled landing of the Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft at Bobo-Dioulasso airfield, a move Ouagadougou authorities described as unauthorised.

The two crew members and nine passengers were held for questioning amid suspicions that the flight might be connected to the recent failed coup in the Benin Republic.

LEADERSHIP had reported on Tuesday that the effort to assist Benin to quell the coup appeared to have triggered a web of complicated and dangerous regional power game unfolding between Nigeria and the Sahel states of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, who recently exited ECOWAS following disagreements over coups in the three countries.

In the aftermath of the failed coup in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, and perhaps in solidarity with Burkina Faso, authorities in the Republic of Niger have reportedly introduced new restrictions on goods entering the country from Nigeria, a move attributed to growing security concerns across the Sahel.