Burkina Faso forces Nigerian Air Force aircraft to land after authorities in the country claimed the military plane entered its airspace without authorization, triggering heightened security alerts and a swift response from Sahelian defence officials.

According to a statement released by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-run news agency, the C-130 transport aircraft—carrying 11 Nigerian military personnel, including two crew members and nine passengers—was compelled to land in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday, December 8, 2025. The announcement was attributed to the Confederation of Sahel States, a regional military alliance comprising Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Burkinabe authorities said the Nigerian aircraft issued an emergency signal while in flight but simultaneously lacked official clearance to operate within its airspace. The statement, translated from French, explained that investigations “highlighted the absence of authorization to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”

The Sahel bloc condemned what it described as a serious violation of sovereignty, insisting that the incident breached the security protocols governing its regional airspace. It added that air defence systems across the confederate region had been placed on maximum alert and warned that they were “authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the Confederate space.”

The forced landing has sparked intense speculation across diplomatic and military circles, especially as relations between Nigeria and the Sahel alliance have been strained following the withdrawal of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS.

As of the time of filing this report, no official statement has been released by the Nigerian Air Force or the Federal Government, leaving unanswered questions about the nature of the mission, the alleged emergency, and the reported lack of overflight authorization.

The Nigerian personnel onboard the aircraft are reported to be safe and under the supervision of Burkinabe authorities as investigations continue.

SparkMedia Africa will provide updates as more details emerge.

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