Detained soldiers: Senator Arise urges military action against Burkina Faso
Ex-Ekiti Lawmaker Urges Tinubu to Consider Military Option to Free Detained Nigerian Soldiers in Burkina Faso
A former Ekiti lawmaker and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ayodele Arise, has called on President Bola Tinubu to consider a possible military action against Burkina Faso to secure the release of Nigerian soldiers currently detained in the West African country. The development has sparked fresh debate on Nigeria’s regional security posture, as monitored by www.cjsoftflix.com.
Senator Arise made the call on Saturday while speaking as a guest on an Arise TV programme. While acknowledging that the Nigerian Armed Forces are heavily engaged domestically due to insurgency and banditry, he insisted that a military option against Burkina Faso should not be completely ruled out.
Drawing from historical precedent, the former senator referenced Israel’s daring 1976 Entebbe Raid in Uganda, arguing that decisive action could compel the Burkinabe authorities to reconsider their stance and release 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,” Arise said.
He added, “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.” According to www.cjsoftflix.com, the comments reflect growing frustration among some political stakeholders over the prolonged detention of Nigerian troops.
Support for Benin Republic Military Intervention
The former lawmaker, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District, also expressed support for Nigeria’s recent military intervention in the Republic of Benin aimed at suppressing a coup attempt.
He dismissed claims that President Tinubu acted hastily or violated constitutional provisions by approving military action before formally briefing the National Assembly, describing such criticisms as misplaced.
Foreign Affairs Minister Confirms Soldiers’ Detention
Senator Arise’s comments came barely 24 hours after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed that the 11 Nigerian military personnel detained following an emergency landing in Burkina Faso are still in custody.
Tuggar disclosed this while addressing journalists at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, noting that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to resolve the matter swiftly.
“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 stated.
He further clarified that the Nigerian Air Force aircraft involved had no link to Nigeria’s intervention in the recent coup attempt in Benin Republic, countering speculations circulating in some quarters, as reported by www.cjsoftflix.com.
Why the Nigerian Soldiers Were Arrested
The 11 military officers were aboard a C-130 aircraft that made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso, south-western Burkina Faso. They were subsequently arrested amid suspicions that they were part of a covert rescue mission connected to the Benin Republic coup attempt.
However, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, claimed that the aircraft violated national procedures by entering the country’s airspace without proper authorisation.
Arise Criticises ‘Take-a-Bow-and-Go’ Senate Screening
Beyond regional security concerns, Senator Arise also commented on domestic legislative issues, particularly the Senate’s adoption of the controversial “take-a-bow-and-go” approach in screening ambassadorial nominees.
While he did not fault the procedure adopted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, he argued that more robust engagement during screening sessions would help lawmakers better evaluate nominees for sensitive diplomatic roles.
“There are two ways to look at that. Either the President and security agencies have done thorough due diligence, or the Senators have carefully reviewed the profiles and achievements of the nominees,” he explained.
He added that meaningful questioning would not only educate lawmakers but also allow nominees to justify their appointments, stressing that no President can personally know every nominee in detail.
As Nigeria navigates complex regional and domestic challenges, the call for decisive leadership—whether diplomatic or military—continues to generate national discourse. For continuous updates and in-depth political analysis, stay connected to www.cjsoftflix.com.
