Burkina Faso’s military government has detained 11 Nigerian military personnel and seized a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday, allegedly without official clearance to fly through the country’s airspace.
The incident was announced in a late-night statement by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — the security and political bloc formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger after pulling out of ECOWAS.
According to the AES, Burkinabe air-defense units intercepted the aircraft when it was detected operating in Burkina Faso’s airspace. Authorities said the C-130 was “forced to land” due to what was described as an in-flight emergency.
“The aircraft, a C-130 belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, was forced to land on 8 December 2025 in Bobo Dioulasso following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace,” the statement said.
Burkina Faso confirmed that the aircraft carried two crew members and nine passengers, all of whom are Nigerian military officers. All 11 were taken into custody immediately after landing.
“The individuals were later identified as members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and are currently being detained,” the AES added.
Burkinabe authorities say a preliminary investigation found that the aircraft lacked the required permission to enter the country’s airspace — an act the junta described as a breach of sovereignty.
“The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” the AES said.
The Sahel alliance announced that its air-defense systems have been placed on the highest state of readiness, warning that any future unauthorized aircraft could be “neutralized.”
This move aligns with a December 22, 2024 directive authorizing the bloc’s military command to respond forcefully to any perceived external threat.
As of the time of reporting, the Nigerian government has not issued an official statement regarding the detention of its personnel or the seizure of the aircraft.
The development comes at a time of escalating diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the AES bloc, which has repeatedly accused ECOWAS and its member states — including Nigeria — of hostile actions since the Sahelian juntas exited the regional organization in January
