A former senator representing Ekiti North, Ayodele Arise, has urged the Federal Government to look beyond diplomacy in securing the release of Nigerian soldiers detained in Burkina Faso, arguing that Nigeria must be prepared to project strength, including the possibility of military action.
Arise made the call on Saturday during an appearance on an Arise Television programme, where he maintained that a firm posture could compel the Burkinabe authorities to reconsider their stance on the detained Nigerian personnel.
“I think we should move and do something. As a matter of fact, once they are aware that we want to do that, I am sure that the man who is president there will have a rethink because they are our neighbours,” he said.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s Armed Forces are currently stretched by internal security challenges such as insurgency and banditry, Arise insisted that the country must still assert itself within the sub-region.
“Yes, we should be friendly with our neighbours, but at the same time we should let them know that they can’t be messing with our country,” he added.
The former lawmaker cited Israel’s 1976 Entebbe Raid in Uganda as an example of decisive action that forced a host country to change its position, arguing that firmness, when necessary, could be an effective diplomatic tool.
Arise’s remarks came a day after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that the 11 Nigerian military personnel detained in Burkina Faso remain in custody following an emergency landing by a Nigerian Air Force aircraft. Tuggar spoke to journalists at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, stressing that diplomatic efforts were ongoing.
“We are discussing how we can resolve this delicate matter as quickly as possible, and we’re talking. So it’s something that is being handled diplomatically,” the minister said.
Tuggar also clarified that the C-130 aircraft involved had no connection to Nigeria’s recent military intervention in the Republic of Benin, countering reports that the detained officers were suspected of involvement in a rescue mission linked to a failed coup.
Earlier, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, had claimed that the aircraft breached national procedures by entering the country’s airspace without authorisation—an assertion Nigerian officials have disputed.
Beyond the Burkina Faso incident, Arise defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to approve military intervention in the Republic of Benin, dismissing claims that the President acted hastily or violated constitutional provisions by not immediately informing the National Assembly.
He also weighed in on domestic legislative practices, particularly the Senate’s use of the “take-a-bow-and-go” approach during the screening of ambassadorial nominees, describing it as lawful but inadequate for such sensitive appointments.
“There are two ways to look at that. It is either the President and the security agencies have done a good job of due diligence of the candidates, and the Senators have read their profiles, resumes, achievements and contributions to national development,” he said.
Arise, however, argued that more rigorous scrutiny would strengthen the process and public confidence.
“But many of us will prefer that the Senate ask questions. Let the nominees justify the nomination from Mr President because he himself can’t know every one of them,” he added.
