Burkina Faso on Tuesday confirmed the release of eleven Nigerian military officers detained following an unauthorized landing by their transport aircraft, resolving a diplomatic flashpoint that heightened regional tensions.
The officers were aboard a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 transport plane that landed unexpectedly in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday. Nigerian authorities in Abuja described the incident as a “technical emergency landing” forced by a mechanical fault while the aircraft was en route to Portugal.
However, Burkinabè authorities and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—offered a contrasting narrative. Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo stated that the plane violated national procedures by flying into Burkina Faso “without authorisation.”
In a joint statement, the military governments of the AES—a bloc increasingly critical of Nigeria’s regional influence, particularly following alleged Nigerian involvement in a recent coup rescue operation in Benin—labelled the incident an “unfriendly act.”
The AES joint statement affirmed that their investigation confirmed a “violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.” It also revealed that the Alliance’s air forces had been placed on maximum alert with orders to “neutralise any aircraft” breaching the confederation’s airspace.
Burkinabè security officials confirmed that the personnel—two crew members and nine military passengers—were released after initial questioning and permitted to depart. The Nigerian Air Force, while emphasizing that the personnel were “safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities,” affirmed that the aircraft would resume its scheduled mission to Portugal, stressing its commitment to “operational procedures and safety standards.”
