Nigerian authorities have reacted to reports that some of their military personnel and a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft were detained in Burkina Faso after making an emergency landing without prior approval.
The incident occurred on Monday, 8 December, when the aircraft landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city. According to Burkina Faso’s military government, the plane entered the country’s airspace without authorization, prompting security forces to compel it to land and detain those onboard.
Nigeria’s Explanation
The Nigerian Air Force clarified that the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when the crew detected a technical issue. This forced them to divert to the nearest available airfield—Bobo-Dioulasso—following standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.
NAF stated that the crew members are safe and were treated well by Burkina Faso’s authorities. Plans are underway for the aircraft and crew to continue their mission once clearance is given.
In a statement, the Air Force said:
“The aircraft took off from Lagos and the crew observed a technical concern that required a precautionary landing in Burkina Faso. The Nigerian Air Force appreciates the support provided and assures the public of its commitment to safety, professionalism, and the protection of its personnel.”
Burkina Faso and Sahel Alliance React Strongly
However, Burkina Faso’s authorities and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—offered a sharply different narrative.
They accused Nigeria of violating Burkinabè airspace without authorization. AES condemned the incident, calling it an “unfriendly act” and a breach of international aviation regulations.
In a dramatic response, the AES announced that it had placed its air-defense and anti-aircraft systems on maximum alert. Member states were also authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates their airspace going forward.
The alliance stated:
“The aerial and anti-aircraft defenses of the confederation are on maximum alert and are authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates our airspace.”
Broader Regional Context
The incident comes amid rising tensions and shifting alliances in West Africa.
Earlier this year, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from ECOWAS and formed the AES, drastically altering existing regional security frameworks—especially joint efforts to combat insurgencies in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.
In this tense atmosphere—marked by coups, terrorism, and unstable borders—airspace incursions are treated with heightened suspicion.
Just days before the emergency landing, Nigeria deployed jets and troops to neighbouring Benin Republic to help quell a mutiny, signaling increased Nigerian military operations within the region. This move drew mixed reactions across West Africa.
While Nigeria insists the landing in Burkina Faso was a routine precautionary diversion, the Sahel alliance sees it as a serious violation of sovereignty—highlighting deep distrust and fragile regional cooperation.
The detention of Nigerian military personnel and the seizure of the aircraft underscore the AES’s new, more aggressive stance on territorial and airspace control.
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