Burkina Faso Releases 11 Nigerian Military Personnel After Unauthorised Aircraft Landing

Burkina Faso has released11 Nigerian Military Personnel after unauthorised aircraft landing.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel detained after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 transport aircraft made an unscheduled landing at the Bobo-Dioulasso airfield, an entry Ouagadougou authorities described as unauthorised.

The detained personnel, made up of two crew members and nine passengers, were held for questioning over concerns that the aircraft’s presence might be linked to the recent failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic. After investigations, they were cleared of any wrongdoing and have since returned safely to Nigeria.

Nigerian authorities insisted the aircraft diverted due to a technical issue while en route to Portugal. However, Burkinabe officials maintained that the plane entered the country’s airspace without prior clearance, prompting an immediate security response in line with national defence protocols.

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Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, said the action taken was strictly procedural, emphasizing that every aircraft entering Burkinabe airspace must adhere to established authorisation rules.

In a joint statement, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) condemned the incident as a breach of sovereignty and described the NAF aircraft’s diversion as an “unfriendly act.” The bloc further disclosed that the episode triggered heightened alert levels across their respective air forces.

The Nigerian Air Force, in its response, stressed that the crew followed international aviation safety protocols and noted that its personnel were treated humanely during their brief detention.

The development marks yet another point of diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the AES alliance, which recently formalised its withdrawal from ECOWAS, deepening political and security tensions in the region.