Nigerian authorities have reacted to reports involving their military personnel and a Nigerian Air Force C130 aircraft that landed in Burkina Faso without approval.
According to officials in Burkina Faso, several Nigerian military officers were detained after making an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso, the second largest city in the country, on Monday, December 8, without prior clearance.
Nigerian Air Force Gives Its Explanation
The Nigerian Air Force explained that the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when it was forced to divert due to a technical issue.
In its official statement, the Air Force said the C130 aircraft departed Lagos but encountered a technical concern that required a precautionary landing at the nearest airfield, Bobo Dioulasso, in line with international aviation safety procedures.
The statement confirmed that the crew members are safe and have received cordial treatment from Burkina Faso authorities. Efforts are ongoing to resume the mission.
The Air Force added that it remains committed to strict operational and safety standards while ensuring the protection of its personnel and carrying out its constitutional duties.
Sahel Alliance Shares a Conflicting Account
However, the position of the Burkina Faso military government and the Alliance of Sahel States presents a different narrative.
The Sahel Alliance, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, claimed the Nigerian aircraft entered Burkinabe airspace without authorization, forcing the authorities to compel the landing.
The bloc condemned the event as a violation of airspace and national sovereignty, describing the landing as an unfriendly act that disregarded international aviation rules.
In a tense escalation, the Sahel Alliance announced that its air defense systems were now on maximum alert and authorized member states to neutralize any aircraft that violates their airspace without permission.
A joint statement from the alliance stressed that the confederation’s aerial and anti aircraft defenses were fully activated to prevent further unauthorized flights.
Rising Tensions Across West Africa
This incident occurs at a time of rising mistrust and major shifts in regional alliances across West Africa.
The creation of the Alliance of Sahel States earlier this year, following the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from ECOWAS, disrupted long standing regional security coordination. This includes multinational operations against terrorism in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
In this volatile environment, defined by coups, insurgency, and instability, airspace control has become extremely sensitive. Member states of the Sahel Alliance now view unauthorized military overflights as serious threats rather than aviation emergencies.
Recently, Nigeria deployed jets and troops to the neighboring Benin Republic to help suppress a mutiny. This move drew mixed reactions across the region and added to ongoing political tension.
While the Nigerian Air Force insists the diversion of the C130 was a routine safety requirement, officials from the Sahel countries interpret the incident as a deliberate breach of sovereignty. This highlights the deep distrust and fragile relations shaping the region today.
The detention of Nigerian personnel and the seizure of the aircraft demonstrate the new assertive approach of the Sahel Alliance regarding airspace protection as West Africa faces one of its most unstable periods in recent years.
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