The government of Burkina Faso has grounded a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft after it was reportedly forced to make an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday for allegedly violating the country’s airspace.
The incident was disclosed by Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-owned news agency, which published a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
According to the translated statement, the C-130 aircraft, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, landed on 8 December 2025 after experiencing an in-flight emergency while passing through Burkinabè airspace.
Onboard were 11 military personnel, two crew members and nine passengers.
Burkina Faso’s authorities said their preliminary investigation revealed that the aircraft did not possess the required authorisation to fly over the country.
“The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel,” the statement added.
“Findings from the investigation highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”
The AES strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a breach of the sovereignty of its member states.
It warned that its air and anti-aircraft defence systems had been placed on maximum alert and authorised to “neutralise any aircraft that would violate the Confederate space.”
As of press time, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Federal Government has issued an official response to the development.
