Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel and their C-130 aircraft following an emergency landing at Bobo-Dioulasso airfield that triggered a diplomatic and security stir.
The group—two crew members and nine passengers, was initially held over suspicions that the flight was linked to the recent failed coup in Benin Republic. They were later cleared and have returned safely to Nigeria.
While Nigerian authorities said the landing was a technical emergency en route to Portugal, Burkinabe officials claimed the aircraft entered their airspace without prior clearance, prompting a security response. Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, confirmed that actions taken were in line with national security protocols.
The military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, operating under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), described the incident as a breach of sovereign airspace and an “unfriendly act”, placing their air forces on heightened alert.
The Nigerian Air Force maintained that its crew followed international aviation safety procedures and were treated respectfully during detention.
The episode underscores growing tensions between Nigeria and the AES, highlighting challenges in regional security coordination and airspace management in West Africa.
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