NAF Responds After Burkina Faso Detains Alleged 11 Nigerian Soldiers

 

NAF Responds After Burkina Faso Detains Alleged 11 Nigerian Soldiers

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has denied claims that its C-130 aircraft unlawfully entered Burkinabe airspace, asserting the plane landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, purely as a precaution following a technical issue. 

What Happened According to Burkina Faso

The Confederation of Sahel States (AES), a bloc made up of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — claims the Nigerian aircraft entered its airspace without authorization. The plane was carrying 11 Nigerian military personnel when it made an emergency landing on December 8, 2025. As a result, AES says its forces detained those on board and impounded the aircraft. 

AES described the landing as a breach of sovereignty and warned that its air-defence systems have been placed on maximum alert. Future airspace violations, they said, would face stern consequences under their rules. 

NAF’s Version: Emergency Landing, Not Violation

NAF’s director of public relations, Ehimen Ejodame, clarified that the plane was on a ferry mission to Portugal when a technical issue forced a precautionary landing at the nearest safe airfield in Bobo-Dioulasso. He emphasized that the emergency landing followed standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols, and that the crew and personnel onboard were safe and well-treated.

NAF also said the mission is expected to resume once the safety check is complete and the necessary clearances are obtained. 

Why This Matters (and What Could Happen Next)

• AES claims the landing was unauthorized and grounds for detaining the aircraft and personnel. That casts doubt over whether the safety explanation will hold or lead to diplomatic or military consequences. 

• The seizure of the aircraft, along with the detention of the soldiers, risks escalating tensions between Nigeria and the Sahel bloc, especially given the regional instability and recent military tensions involving neighboring countries. 

• Even if the plane and crew are released, this incident might impact future overflight agreements, diplomatic relations, and Nigeria’s military operations abroad.