The Government of Burkina Faso has announced that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 military personnel was compelled to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday after allegedly violating the country’s airspace.
The incident was disclosed by the Agence d’Information du Burkina (AIB), the state news agency, which published a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
According to the translated statement, the aircraft—operated by the Nigerian Air Force—was intercepted and ordered to land following “an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.” Onboard were two crew members and nine passengers, all identified as Nigerian military personnel.
Burkinabe authorities later conducted an investigation, which reportedly found that the aircraft lacked the required authorisation to fly over Burkina Faso.
The AES condemned the incident, describing it as a breach of the sovereignty of its member states. It further warned that air and anti-aircraft units across the confederation had been placed on maximum alert and authorised “to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the Confederate space.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Federal Government has issued an official response.
