Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military officers who were detained after their Air Force transport plane made what Burkinabè authorities called an unauthorised landing in the country.
The detained personnel, comprising two crew members and nine military passengers, were aboard a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft that landed on Monday in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s western city.
The Nigerian government insisted the stop was a technical emergency while the aircraft was en route to Portugal.
However, Burkina Faso’s Territorial Administration Minister, Emile Zerbo, said the aircraft entered the country’s airspace without clearance, prompting a rapid security response.
“The aircraft flew into Burkina Faso without authorisation. The situation required immediate intervention by our defence and intelligence units,” Zerbo said.
The incident drew sharp criticism from the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who operate under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
In a joint statement, the bloc described the incident as a violation of its airspace and sovereignty, terming Nigeria’s action an “unfriendly act.”
AES further announced that its air forces were placed on maximum alert to neutralise any aircraft breaching their controlled airspace.
Despite the initial tensions, Burkinabè security officials told international media that the Nigerian officers were questioned, cleared, and allowed to leave.
The NAF said its personnel were treated cordially and emphasised that the diversion followed international aviation safety procedures.
Analysts say the episode highlights the growing friction between Nigeria and the AES countries, each led by military juntas that accuse Nigeria of interfering in regional security operations, especially in Benin, where Abuja has played a central role in countering coup threats.
Since withdrawing from ECOWAS earlier this year, the AES countries have strengthened military and political cooperation, expelled several Western partners, and sought closer ties with Russia for security support.
Niger, for instance, recently imposed stricter inspections on goods from Nigeria, citing heightened security concerns.
The C-130 incident underscores the fragile state of diplomatic and security relations between Nigeria and the military-led governments of the Sahel, raising questions about regional cooperation amid ongoing threats from insurgents and political instability.
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