A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, Senator Ayodele Arise, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to completely dismiss the option of military action if it becomes necessary to secure the freedom of Nigerian soldiers reportedly detained in Burkina Faso.
Arise made the statement on Saturday during a morning programme on Arise Television, which was monitored in Abuja. He was responding to recent comments by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, who revealed that Nigerian soldiers aboard a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that was forced to land in Burkina Faso are still being held by authorities in the neighbouring country.
The foreign affairs minister had earlier explained that the Federal Government was addressing the situation through diplomatic engagement, stressing that discussions were ongoing to resolve the sensitive matter as quickly as possible.
Burkina Faso, together with Mali and Niger, recently pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and went on to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) following the rise of military-led governments in the three countries.
While acknowledging that Nigeria’s military is currently heavily engaged in combating insurgency, banditry and other security threats across the country, Senator Arise said he remains confident in the armed forces’ ability to respond decisively if required.
He cited the 1976 Entebbe operation in Uganda, in which Israeli forces successfully rescued hostages, as an example of firm action taken to protect national interests.
According to Arise, Nigeria should be prepared to take concrete steps, noting that even the possibility of such action could prompt Burkina Faso’s leadership to reconsider its position, given the close relationship between both countries. He added that while Nigeria should maintain cordial relations with its neighbours, it must also make it clear that its sovereignty and citizens should not be taken for granted.
The former senator, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District, also praised President Tinubu for his recent diplomatic intervention, which he said helped to prevent a potential military takeover in Benin Republic.
On the debate surrounding the Senate’s “bow-and-go” screening process for some ambassadorial nominees, Arise suggested that the approach could be seen in two ways: either the presidency and security agencies had conducted thorough background checks on the nominees, or the lawmakers were already satisfied with their qualifications, track records and contributions to national development.