At least eleven Nigerian military personnel have been taken into custody by Burkina Faso’s military government after a Nigerian Air Force aircraft reportedly made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, in what the Burkinabe authorities allege was a breach of the country’s sovereign airspace. The detained soldiers were aboard a C-130 transport aircraft, which the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) claims “illegally entered” its airspace, prompting immediate action from the ruling junta.
The Alliance of Sahel States, a military bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, confirmed the detentions in a statement released late Monday. The announcement, shared on X by security analyst Brant Grant, emphasized that the Nigerian aircraft “violated AES airspace and was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso,” after which all personnel onboard were arrested. The AES warned that any unauthorized aircraft entering its airspace would be “immediately neutralised,” a declaration interpreted by observers as a potential escalation of regional tensions.
According to the AES statement, “The Confederation of the Sahel States informs the public that an aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a C130 type, was forced to land today, 8 December 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency situation, while it was operating in Burkinabe airspace.” This assertion underscores the military bloc’s firm stance on protecting its territorial sovereignty and controlling all air operations within its jurisdiction.
The incident comes amid heightened regional security activities, as it occurred less than 24 hours after Nigeria dispatched military aircraft to the Republic of Benin in response to a failed coup attempt. While it remains unclear whether the detained Nigerian personnel were connected to any formal regional security mission, the AES reiterated that the aircraft had “no authorised clearance” to operate in Burkinabe airspace. The sudden detentions have raised concerns about diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and the AES member states, particularly regarding military movements in sensitive regions of West Africa.
Security analysts note that this episode reflects growing friction between the democratic governments in West Africa and the Sahelian military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The AES has increasingly demonstrated a willingness to assert its control over its territory and airspace, signaling potential complications for cooperative security operations in the region. Observers have highlighted that such incidents could strain relations between Nigeria and the AES countries, potentially affecting broader regional collaboration in intelligence sharing, counterterrorism, and peacekeeping initiatives.
As of press time, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian government addressing the detentions or outlining steps toward securing the release of the soldiers and the aircraft. Diplomatic channels are reportedly being explored to resolve the situation, but the incident has already intensified discussions among security experts, policymakers, and international observers about the delicate balance of military operations, airspace sovereignty, and regional cooperation in West Africa.