₦airaland Forum

Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has formally apologised to Burkina Faso for the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military jet into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.

Tuggar's spokesperson told the BBC that the detained personnel had been released and were due to return to Nigeria, without saying when.

The plane was flying to Portugal when it developed a technical problem and had to land in Burkina Faso, according to the Nigerian Air Force.

The unauthorised landing sparked a diplomatic row with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) made up of Burkina Faso and its neighbours, Mali, and Niger.

In a statement, AES characterised it as an "unfriendly act" and said member states‘ respective air forces had been put on maximum alert and authorised to "neutralise any aircraft" found to violate the confederation's airspace.

The three AES states, all run by the military, have withdrawn from the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, and moved closer to Russia, while most Ecowas members remain allied to the West.

Tuggar led a delegation to the Burkinabè capital, Ouagadougou, on Wednesday, to discuss the incident with military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

"There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations, which was regrettable, and we apologise for this unfortunate incident," Tuggar said on national TV.

It remains unclear when the military personnel, said to be in "high spirits", and the aircraft will return to Nigeria.

According to Nigeria's foreign ministry, both sides agreed to "sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration".

Orlandoo:
After rolling on the floor in Burkina Faso, crying and begging Traore to release them, the Tinubu led infamous government has finally publicly apologized to Burkina Faso and promised it won't happen again. Tinubu is a disgrace to Nigeria.

Kukutente23:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74xvp00wj3o

Kukutente23:
Loubaton
See how APC keeps disgracing us
Who ever thought will see the day that Nigeria will be apologising to small countries like Burkina Faso in West Africa
First you threatens your neighbour with war
Next you decimated Ecowas that has encouraged cooperation among African countries for years
After you invaded another country's airspace
Then you bombed your neighbour under the guise of defending democracy. It's not even as if you believe in the democracy o. Na just sound bites and clout chasing you're using democracy for

LibertyRep:
The beauty of diplomacy instead of gra gea.

When a mosquito perches on a man's scrutum, then he knows then patience becomes a virtue.

Chivisee:
Good you have no right to violate any country’s space!

Orlandoo:
After rolling on the floor in Burkina Faso, crying and begging Traore to release them, the Tinubu led infamous government has finally publicly apologized to Burkina Faso and promised it won't happen again. Tinubu is a disgrace to Nigeria.

Kukutente23:
Loubaton
See how APC keeps disgracing us
Who ever thought will see the day that Nigeria will be apologising to small countries like Burkina Faso in West Africa
First you threatens your neighbour with war
Next you decimated Ecowas that has encouraged cooperation among African countries for years
After you invaded another country's airspace
Then you bombed your neighbour under the guise of defending democracy. It's not even as if you believe in the democracy o. Na just sound bites and clout chasing you're using democracy for

princepee:
So we Don humble??
I thought some were saying we will go to war....
Burkina Faso president na the Man

bunmioguns:
Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are now the 'Big Three' while Nigeria is the 'Backstage Crew.' Imagine Traoré looking at our Minister and saying 'Don't let it happen again.' The hunter has become the hunted. ECOWAS is now just a WhatsApp group for elders.