The Burkina Faso military authorities have announced that they detained 11 Nigerian military personnel and seized a Nigerian Air Force cargo plane after it made an emergency landing in the country, having entered Burkinabe airspace without authorisation.
According to a statement issued late Monday by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force was compelled to land on December 8, 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso due to an in-flight emergency while operating inside Burkina Faso’s airspace.
The AES — which comprises Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, all led by military governments — said the aircraft was carrying two crew members and nine passengers. The statement confirmed that all eleven individuals were identified as members of the Nigerian armed forces and are currently being held for further investigation.
“The military aircraft had on board two crew members and nine passengers, all military personnel,” the statement added. The regional bloc condemned the unauthorised entry, noting that Burkinabe authorities have opened a detailed investigation to establish the full circumstances of the incident.It further disclosed that the three AES member states had placed their air defence systems on heightened alert in response to the intrusion.
The AES said: “An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed that the aircraft had no authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory. The Confederation of the Sahel States strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.
“In light of this unfriendly act, which disregards international law and civil or military aviation regulations, measures have been taken to secure the confederal airspace and protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, as well as the safety of the populations.
“Following instructions from the Heads of State, air defence and anti-aircraft systems in the confederal territory have been placed on maximum alert and authorised to neutralise any aircraft that violates confederal airspace.”
Source: https://gazettengr.com/
