Eleven Nigerian military officers are still being held in Burkina Faso six days after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft made an emergency landing in the country, prompting diplomatic efforts between both governments.
The incident happened on December 8, 2025, when a NAF C-130 aircraft, en route to Portugal on a ferry mission, developed a technical fault shortly after taking off from Lagos. Following international aviation safety standards, the crew diverted the aircraft to the nearest available airport in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
However, Burkina Faso’s military-led government detained both the aircraft and its crew, claiming the flight entered its airspace without official clearance. The country’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, said investigations showed no authorisation was granted for the aircraft’s entry, a move later condemned by the Confederation of Sahel States as a violation of national sovereignty.
The Nigerian Air Force has maintained that the personnel are safe and being treated well. NAF spokesperson, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the landing was purely precautionary and followed all established aviation procedures.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that diplomatic engagements are ongoing to resolve the matter. According to the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou is actively engaging Burkinabe authorities to secure the release of both the detained officers and the aircraft.
Meanwhile, former APC senator Ayodele Arise has called on the federal government to consider a tougher response. Speaking on Arise Television, he suggested that Nigeria should show firmness, citing Israel’s 1976 Entebbe operation as an example of decisive action that forced a change in stance.
Arise argued that while Nigeria values good relations with neighbouring countries, it must also protect its national dignity and security interests. He also defended President Bola Tinubu’s recent military actions in Benin Republic and called for stricter scrutiny of ambassadorial nominees.
Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar reaffirmed that Nigeria is committed to resolving the situation through diplomacy, stressing that the aircraft’s landing had no link to Nigeria’s recent operations in Benin.
As discussions continue, the Nigerian government faces growing pressure to ensure the safe return of its military personnel while asserting its position on regional security and sovereignty.
