Burkina Faso’s military government has detained eleven Nigerian soldiers and seized a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday, amid claims the plane violated the country’s airspace without clearance.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — the confederation formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger after withdrawing from ECOWAS. According to the bloc, the aircraft was intercepted and forced to land following what was described as an in-flight emergency.
“The Confederation informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, 8 December 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace,” the AES said.
Officials said the aircraft had two crew members and nine passengers, all members of the Nigerian Armed Forces, who were immediately taken into custody.
“The individuals were identified as members of the Nigerian Armed Forces and are currently being detained,” the statement noted.
Burkinabe authorities said a preliminary investigation showed the plane did not have the authorisation required to fly over the country, describing the incident as a serious breach of national sovereignty.
“The absence of authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory constitutes a clear violation of our sovereignty, which we condemn with the utmost firmness,” the AES declared.
In a warning that signals escalating tensions in the region, the alliance said its air-defence units had been placed on maximum alert and granted the authority to “neutralise any aircraft” that breaches its protected airspace going forward.
A diplomatic source in Ouagadougou, reacting to the development, said: “The Sahel states are drawing a red line. Any military intrusion, real or perceived, will now be treated as a threat.”
The incident comes against the backdrop of deteriorating ties between Nigeria and the Sahelian juntas, who have repeatedly accused ECOWAS and its allies of attempting to undermine their regimes.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Air Force and the Federal Government have not issued any official comment regarding the detention of the soldiers or the status of the aircraft.
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