Burkina Faso Arrests 11 Nigerian Military Officers, Seizes Air Force Aircraft

Burkina Faso’s government says a Nigerian Air Force plane carrying 11 military personnel was compelled to land in the country on Monday after it allegedly entered its airspace without permission.

The report first appeared through the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state news agency, which released a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States.

According to the statement, the aircraft was a Nigerian Air Force C-130 that made an unexpected landing in Bobo Dioulasso.

Burkina Faso explained that the aircraft had two crew members and nine passengers, all of whom were Nigerian military personnel.

Officials said their investigation showed the aircraft did not have clearance to fly over the country, leading to the detention of the Nigerian soldiers.

The Confederation of Sahel States criticised the incident, calling it a breach of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member nations.

It also noted that its air and anti-aircraft units had been placed on high alert, with approval to take action against any aircraft that trespassed into its territory.

The statement, translated from French, read, “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace. The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel.”

“An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe services and highlighted the lack of authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory for this military apparatus.

“The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.

“Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation rules, arrangements are made to guarantee the security of the Confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its Member States, as well as the safety of the Populations of the Confederation AES.

“In this regard, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the Arian and anti-aircraft defences of the Confederal space put on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024, were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space.”

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Nigerian government has issued an official response.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigerian Air Force on Sunday carried out air strikes on fleeing plotters of a failed coup in Benin Republic.