'We go decide dia fate afta our investigation' – AES member state update BBC about Nigeria military personnel and aircraft wey dem seize

Di eleven Nigerian military personnel wey include two pilots and nine officers wey Burkina Faso authorities detain earlier dis week still dey for custody for di kontri.

Di Minister of Security and Civil Protection for Mali, Daoud Aly Mohammedine confam to BBC say dem just dey finish investigation on wetin happun bifor dem decide di next step.

"On di instructions of di Heads of State, dem don place di air and anti-air defense of di confederate airspace on maximum alert. In accordance wit di declaration of di College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024, e dey authorized now to neutralize any aircraft wey violate di confederate airspace."

Mali na one of di Alliance of Sahel States (AES) member states and currently, dem dey face increase in jihadist attacks.

Meanwhile, di Nigerian authorities say dem dey intensify diplomatic efforts to secure di release of di detained military personnel plus di return of di C-130 military aircraft.

Tok-tok pesin for di Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa tell BBC say di Nigerian embassy don begin discussions wit di Burkinabe govment.

"Di objective na to secure di release of di crew and di return of di aircraft. For us, di diplomatic route na di priority. Discussions dey go on, but we neva get date for a resolution."

Na on Monday, 8 December, one Nigerian Air Force aircraft C-130 make one emergency landing for Bobo-Dioulasso, for di west of Burkina Faso and dia second-largest city.

Di kontri Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo tok say di aircraft enta Burkina Faso airspace without authorisation.

For one joint statement, di military govments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally known as Alliance of Sahel States (AES), confam say di aircraft enta Burkinabè airspace without prior authorisation and dem force am to land.

"Competent Burkinabè services immediately open investigation and dem highlight di lack of authorisation to fly ova Burkinabè territory for dis military apparatus," di AES tok for joint statement.

But di Nigerian account of di incident no follow di position of di three Sahel countries. Authorities bin insist say di aircraft bin develop one technical fault and e land for di nearest airfield in accordance wit safety rules.

According to one statement wey di Director of Public Relations and Information, Commander Ehimen Ejodame, tok-tok pesin for di Nigerian Air Forces release on Tuesday, 9 December, e say di crew bin dey come from Portugal, wen di aircraft divert go di nearest airport, following standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.

Di statement bin add say crew dey "safe and dey receive cordial treatment from di host authorities". E bin no mention weda dem dey for detention.

Dis incident dey happun for di middle of one rising tensions between Nigeria and di AES bloc, days afta di Economic Community of West Africa (Ecowas) bin send forces to Benin to counter one attempted coup.