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The Nigerian soldiers released by Burkina Faso have arrived at an Air Force base in Accra, Ghana, ahead of their onward journey to Portugal.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja.
Ejodame said the aircraft was en route to Portugal via Banjul and Casablanca for scheduled depot maintenance. He assured the public that all crew members were safe and that the aircraft remained fully serviceable.
“The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has confirmed that its C-130 aircraft, which made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, has safely arrived in Accra, Ghana, ahead of its onward journey to Portugal.
“We will continue to operate to the highest standards of safety and professionalism. We thank Nigerians for their concern and support during the precautionary event,” Ejodame said.
The Eastern Updates reports that the Burkina Faso junta had detained the soldiers after their aircraft made a forced landing in the Sahelian country.
Recall that Burkina Faso has released a Nigerian Air Force aircraft and 11 personnel.
The Federal Government has dispatched a high-level delegation to Burkina Faso to engage the country’s leadership over the continued detention of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew members.
The delegation comprises senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, and is led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar.
Sources familiar with the mission told Zagazola Makama that the delegation is currently in Ouagadougou for peaceful and constructive engagements with Burkinabè authorities, including a scheduled meeting with President Ibrahim Traoré.
