Nigeria's Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has formally apologised to Burkina Faso for the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military jet into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.
Tuggar's spokesperson told the BBC that the detained personnel had been released and were due to return to Nigeria, without specifying when.
The plane was flying to Portugal when it developed a technical problem and had to land in Burkina Faso, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
The unauthorised landing sparked a diplomatic row with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso and its neighbours, Mali and Niger.
In a statement, AES characterised the incident as an unfriendly act and stated that member states' air forces had been placed on high alert, authorising them to neutralise any aircraft found to violate airspace.
The AES states, all governed by military regimes, have distanced themselves from the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, and have shifted their alliances closer to Russia.
Tuggar led a delegation to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital, to discuss the incident with military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
He stated, There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations, which was regrettable, and we apologise for this unfortunate incident, while speaking on national TV.
The precise return date for the military personnel, who are reportedly in high spirits, remains unclear.
Nigeria's foreign ministry indicated that both nations have committed to maintaining regular consultations and pursuing practical measures to enhance bilateral cooperation and regional integration.
