Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a major diplomatic and security blow, Burkina Faso’s military government has confirmed the detention of 11 Nigerian military personnel and the seizure of a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 cargo aircraft — after it made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on 8 December 2025, having reportedly entered Burkinabè airspace without prior approval.
The aircraft was carrying two crew members and nine passengers, all identified as soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces. The bloc Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which comprises Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, described the landing as an unauthorized incursion and a breach of its territorial sovereignty.
In a strongly worded communique issued late Monday, AES authorities announced a formal investigation into the incident, confirmed the detention of the Nigerian personnel, and moved to place air-defence and anti-aircraft systems across the confederation on maximum alert. The statement emphasized that henceforth, any aircraft violating AES-controlled airspace will be subject to immediate “neutralisation.”
According to AES, the C-130 was forced to land after suffering what was described as an “in-flight emergency” while flying over Burkinabè territory. However, the confederation’s investigation reportedly found no record of flight clearance or overflight permission for the aircraft, suggesting the landing was not merely precautionary but constituted an airspace violation.
The aircraft and all personnel onboard were immediately detained by Burkinabè authorities. The plane has been impounded, and the soldiers remain in custody pending the outcome of the probe.
The seizure comes amid heightened regional tensions. The AES — formed in 2024 after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exited ECOWAS — has increasingly adopted a hardened stance toward foreign military movements in its airspace, especially following Nigeria’s recent intervention in the failed coup attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic. Observers say the timing of the incident may reflect broader regional friction between Nigeria and the AES bloc.
By placing their air-defence systems on high alert and explicitly threatening to neutralise unauthorized aircraft, AES has significantly raised the stakes for any future military overflights — not just by Nigeria, but by any state deemed to challenge its sovereignty.
Despite the severity of the response by AES, the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal Government have yet to issue an official public comment. Diplomatic sources in Abuja, speaking off record, suggest that the flight may have been a routine logistical mission possibly related to recent operations in Benin Republic, but they acknowledge the lack of clarity surrounding the aircraft’s flight plan and clearance status.
For now, all eyes are on diplomatic channels and AES-led investigations. Key questions remain: What was the declared mission of the C-130? Why was no overflight clearance obtained? Were international aviation procedures deliberately bypassed — or did technical problems lead to a navigational error?
The incident marks one of the sharpest escalations in recent memory between Nigeria and the AES countries, and has wider implications for regional security cooperation. The blunt move by the AES — commandeering a Nigerian military aircraft and detaining its crew — signals a warning that the confederation intends to strictly enforce its air sovereignty. Analysts warn this could complicate joint counter-terrorism operations and complicate coordination between Nigeria and its Sahel neighbours.
As diplomatic pressure builds, the outcome of the AES investigation and the fate of the detained soldiers may set precedent for how cross-border military aviation is handled across West Africa.
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