Burkina Faso Releases Detained Nigerian Airmen, Cooling Tensions

President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu. — President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu.
Photographer: Ton Molina/Getty Images

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By Tanga Kafando and Ruth Olurounbi

December 18, 2025 at 2:31 AM UTC

Updated on

December 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM UTC

Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Airforce plane and 11 personnel detained last week following an unauthorized emergency landing, diffusing tensions after the West African military junta threatened to shoot down aircraft that entered its airspace without permission.

The move comes after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu dispatched Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar to meet with Burkina Faso leader Ibrahim Traore on Wednesday, a Nigerian government spokesman said in response to questions.