Nigerian Troops Detained in Burkina Faso After Emergency Landing
Published : 02:24, 10 December 2025
Eleven military personnel from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) are being held by authorities in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, after their transport plane was forced to make an emergency landing while traversing Burkinabé airspace.
The aircraft, a C-130‑130, had reportedly been en route to Portugal when a technical issue arose, prompting the crew to seek the nearest available runway.
The landing, however, occurred without prior clearance from the relevant aviation authorities or the consent of local military command.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, described the incident as a serious breach of sovereignty and an “unfriendly act,” declaring that the C-130 and its occupants had violated confederal airspace and international aviation norms.
In response, AES placed its air‑defence and anti-aircraft units on maximum alert and warned that any future unauthorised military aircraft would be subject to “neutralisation.” The detained Nigerian servicemen are reportedly being treated well, but remain in custody pending investigation by Burkinabé authorities.
The incident has significantly escalated tensions between Nigeria and the Sahel alliance. It comes shortly after Nigeria’s military intervention in neighbouring Benin Republic to counter an attempted coup operation that involved Nigerian airstrikes and was supported by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). For AES countries, Nigeria’s intervention in Benin and now the unapproved landing in Burkina Faso reflect patterns of foreign military presence that the alliance views as threats to their sovereignty.
Diplomatic pressure is mounting on both sides. Regional observers warn that unless the matter is resolved swiftly and transparently, this could lead to a broader confrontation undermining fragile security arrangements in West Africa and complicating cooperation among regional blocs.
Source: The Guardian; Associated Press; HeadTopics; Ng.HeadTopics, AP News
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