Burkina Faso Detains Nigerian Military Aircraft, 11 Personnel as Abuja Intensifies Diplomatic Push
Burkina Faso has refused to release a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and the 11 military personnel onboard, despite intensified diplomatic efforts by the Federal Government to resolve the standoff.
The aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso after the crew detected a technical fault, a move Nigeria insists was in line with international aviation safety procedures. However, Burkinabe authorities maintain that the plane violated their airspace by entering without the required clearance.
The disagreement has since escalated, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene directly. Officials familiar with the discussions say the matter has been complicated by rising political tensions in the region, particularly involving the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) — Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger — which recently withdrew from ECOWAS. According to them, the bloc views the incident as an opportunity to assert defiance toward Nigeria.
Diplomatic sources told POLITICS NIGERIA that the C-130 crew complied with standard protocols for emergency landings, but the ongoing friction between Abuja and the Sahel juntas has hindered what would ordinarily be a routine process.
A senior government official confirmed that negotiations with Ouagadougou are active, noting that the aircraft was initially expected to proceed to Portugal shortly after landing but has been denied clearance to depart.
Responding to reports suggesting that the aircraft and personnel had been released, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa dismissed the claims.
“They have not been released as we speak, but we are trying to secure that,” he said. “We are engaging the Burkina Faso authorities using usual diplomatic channels.”
Ebienfa added that the ministry has not been officially informed of the specific reasons for Burkina Faso’s refusal but assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to ensure the personnel return home safely.
Earlier, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed the emergency landing and stated that the crew had been treated courteously.
“Following take-off from Lagos, the crew observed a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso… The NAF crew is safe and has received cordial treatment from the host authorities. Plans are ongoing to resume the mission as scheduled,” the statement read.
However, the mission remains on hold as Burkinabe authorities insist the aircraft breached their airspace without proper authorisation. Local reports in Burkina Faso state that the plane carried 11 Nigerian officers — two crew members and nine passengers — at the time of the landing.
Officials within the AES have described the episode as a violation of their sovereignty, warning that any similar incident in the future would be met with force. They further claimed their air-defence systems were placed on high alert following the intrusion and vowed not to tolerate unauthorised flights across their territory.
