Burkina Faso releases 11 Nigerian military personnel

by · UPI

Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Officials in Burkina Faso released 11 members of the Nigerian military after seizing their cargo aircraft and detaining them for making an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso.

The Nigerian military C-130 aircraft and its crew did not have permission to enter Burkina Faso's airspace when it made the unauthorized landing at the airport serving Burkina Faso's second-largest city on Monday.

Officials with the separatist Association of Sahel States, or AES, on Monday called the incursion an "unfriendly act" but have allowed the two crew members and nine passengers to return to Nigeria, The Guardian reported.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger comprise the AES states, which are aligned with Russia, while others in the region generally are aligned with the West as members of the Economic Community of West African States, according to the BBC.

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The AES states issued a joint statement in which they accused the Nigerian Air Force of engaging in an "unfriendly act" when it entered Burkina Faso's airspace and AES states were alerted and told to "neutralize any aircraft" that violated AES airspace.

The Nigerian aircraft was flying to Portugal when a technical issue forced its crew to make an emergency landing, according to officials with the Nigerian Air Force.

Whether the C-130 and any cargo it might have carried were released or when the 11 personnel are scheduled to arrive in Nigeria was not announced.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar issued a formal apology for the aircraft entering Burkina Faso's airspace

"There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorization, which was regrettable, and we apologize for this unfortunate incident," Tuggar said on national television in Nigeria.

Nigerian Air Force spokesman Ehimen Ejodame said the Nigerian military personnel were treated well, and an investigation into the matter is underway.