A Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 military personnel has been detained in Burkina Faso, following accusations that the plane violated the country’s airspace.
The government in Ouagadougou, through a statement issued by the state-run Agence d’Information du Burkina and endorsed by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), described the aircraft’s presence as an “unfriendly act” and a breach of national sovereignty.
According to the joint statement, the aircraft was forced to land in Bobo Dioulasso after declaring an in-flight emergency while operating within Burkinabe airspace.
The AES—which is made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—said the incident triggered a maximum-alert security posture, authorizing air and anti-aircraft units to “neutralize any aircraft” that violates the bloc’s airspace.
Reports suggest the Sahel alliance is considering further action against the detained Nigerian servicemen, insisting that the overflight amounted to a direct challenge to its territorial integrity.
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The regional body condemned the incident “with the utmost firmness,” reinforcing its position that sovereignty must be respected.
Tensions in the region have been high in recent days, following Nigeria’s military intervention in Benin, where fighter jets and ground troops helped foil an attempted coup in Cotonou.
The Nigerian government said the deployment was carried out at the request of Benin’s authorities, who sought immediate support to repel soldiers loyal to Colonel Pascal Tigri after they seized the national broadcaster and attempted to suspend democratic institutions.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all Beninese requests were fulfilled and that Nigerian troops were operating strictly under the authorization of Benin’s government.
Within hours of deployment, loyal forces regained control of key installations and suppressed the coup attempt.
The three AES countries, all governed by military juntas, have repeatedly emphasized the need to protect their airspace amid increasing geopolitical tensions across West Africa.
