Nigeria's Detained Military Aircraft and Crew Released via Ghana

A Nigerian military aircraft and its 11 crew members, detained in Burkina Faso for 12 days, have been released following diplomatic efforts and were received in Ghana on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

The C-130 transport aircraft and personnel were received at an airbase in Accra by Ghana's Presidential Special Envoy, Larry Gbevlo-Lartey. In a statement, the Ghanaian government commended both Nigeria and Burkina Faso for resolving the dispute through dialogue, highlighting strong fraternal ties in West Africa.

The aircraft had been detained on December 8, 2025, after making what Nigeria described as a precautionary emergency landing at Bobo-Dioulasso airfield due to a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos. Burkina Faso, part of the Alliance of Sahel States, stated the landing was an unfriendly act that violated its sovereignty.

The release was secured after Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, delivered an official apology to Burkina Faso's military leader, Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on December 17.

The crew will rest in Ghana while the aircraft undergoes technical checks. It will then continue its original mission to Portugal for scheduled maintenance, rerouting via Banjul and Casablanca after Mali denied it permission to fly through its airspace.

The incident occurred amidst strained relations between Nigeria—a key member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—and the Alliance of Sahel States, which comprises Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Ghana's role in facilitating the handover underscores its continued diplomatic influence in the region.

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