NAF C-130 aircraft arrives in Portugal after Burkina Faso detention

The soldiers and the aircraft in Portugal. Credit: NAF

Kindly share this story:

The Nigerian Air Force has confirmed the safe arrival of one of its C-130 aircraft, NAF 913, at a maintenance facility in Lisbon, Portugal, its final destination.

Burkina Faso had earlier detained the personnel and aircraft over alleged airspace violations, describing the incident as a breach of sovereignty on December 8.

PUNCH Online reports that the soldiers were released about 10 days after a high-level Nigerian delegation, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, met with Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré and other members of his administration.

In a statement on Friday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the aircraft arrived after a ferry flight conducted in line with an updated flight plan and aviation safety procedures.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Air Force confirms that its C-130 aircraft (NAF 913) arrived safely at the maintenance facility, OGMA, in Lisbon, Portugal today, 26 December 2025.

“The ferry flight was successfully completed, transiting Banjul and Casablanca in line with an updated flight plan and established aviation safety procedures.

“The aircraft and crew arrived without incident, marking the final phase of the movement for the scheduled depot maintenance. All personnel are safe and remain in high spirits.

“The Nigerian Air Force appreciates the cooperation and support of host authorities throughout the transit, while reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of safety, professionalism and operational accountability.”

The PUNCH journalist, Solomon, has five years experience covering crime, judiciary and defence beats.

Kindly share this story:

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

UPDATE NEWS: Nigerians can now invest ₦2.5million on premium domains and profit about ₦17-₦25Million. All earnings paid in US Dollars. Rather than wonder, 👉 click here to find out how it work (Be sure to ask for evidence of clients that have benefitted from this)

Stay informed and ahead of the curve! Follow The Punch Newspaper on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – join now!

Stay in the know—fast. Get instant alerts, breaking headlines, and exclusive stories with the Punch News App. Download now and never miss a beat.