Burkina Faso has released the 11 Nigerian military personnel earlier held after their aircraft made an unexpected landing in Bobo-Dioulasso.
The development came as a surprise across West Africa, especially as tensions in the region have remained sensitive.
The group, which included two crew members and nine passengers, was detained after their Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft touched down without prior clearance.
Burkinabe officials immediately activated security protocols because the move appeared to violate their airspace.
Furthermore, the incident happened only days after the failed coup in Benin Republic, raising new concerns.
Ouagadougou authorities suspected that the flight might be linked to the attempted takeover in Cotonou.
However, Nigerian officials insisted the landing was an emergency due to technical issues during a routine trip to Portugal.
The release of the detained crew has since eased tension, although the episode continues to attract attention, especially in Wace-related regional security discussions.
Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, defended the country’s actions.
He stated that authorities were following security rules strictly.
The AES bloc also backed the move. In a joint declaration, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger described the incident as an “unfriendly act.”
They added that it was a clear breach of their sovereign airspace and that their air forces were placed on high alert.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force stressed that its team complied with international aviation safety rules.
It also confirmed that personnel were treated well during the detention.
In addition, officials restated that the decision to land was made to avoid danger in the air.
Therefore, the release of the 11 personnel has brought some relief in Abuja.
However, analysts note that the issue highlights growing friction between Nigeria and the Alliance of Sahel States.
The strains have increased since the AES announced its withdrawal from ECOWAS.
The entire episode shows how fragile relations within the region have become.
