‘Great victory’ – Fani-Kayode reacts as Burkina Faso releases 11 NAF personnel, aircraft

Nigerian ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday commended President Bola Tinubu over the release of 11 personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the country’s C-130 aircraft.

Fani-Kayode described the development as a great victory for level-headedness and diplomacy.

The NAF C-130 aircraft carrying 11 personnel on a ferry mission to Portugal made a forced landing in Bobo Dioulasso following technical issues two weeks ago.

But Mali junta leader, Assimi Goita, described the precautionary landing as an “unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law”.

Goita threatened that Sahel members would neutralize any aircraft violating their airspace.

However, the government of Burkina Faso released the NAF personnel on Wednesday after a high-level diplomatic engagement.

The delegation of the Nigerian government was led by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Yusuf Tuggar, to the meeting with Burkina Faso junta leader, Mr. Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou.

Reacting to the release of the personnel and the aircraft, Fani-Kayode posted on X: “Great news that our 11 military personnel and C130 aircraft have been released by the Burkinabe authorities and returned home.

“This is a great victory for restraint, level-headedness and diplomacy. I commend the efforts of @officialABAT and @YusufTuggar for their efforts.”