Burkina Faso said it has released 11 Nigerian military personnel who were detained after a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) transport plane, the Charlie-130 Hercules (C-130H) which made what authorities described as an unauthorised landing in the country on Monday.
The officers, including two crew members and nine military passengers, were aboard a Nigerian C-130 with the call sign NAF 917, that landed in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso.
Officials in Ouagadougou confirmed the release on Tuesday, saying the personnel were allowed to return home after preliminary checks were completed. Burkinabè authorities said the aircraft had entered the country’s airspace without prior approval, triggering a security response.
Militarynewsng.com reported that the officers were questioned amid concerns they might have been linked to operations surrounding the unfolding political crisis in Benin Republic.
While Nigerian authorities described the incident as a technical diversion en route to Portugal, Burkina Faso insisted the aircraft violated established entry procedures. Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo said the flight “flew into Burkina Faso without clearance,” prompting immediate intervention by defence and intelligence units.
The Alliance of Sahel States—comprising the juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—condemned the incident in a joint statement, calling it a confirmed violation of their collective airspace and national sovereignty. The bloc described the unscheduled landing as an “unfriendly act” and announced that its air forces had been placed on maximum alert with orders to neutralise any aircraft breaching AES-controlled airspace.
Despite the strong language, Burkinabè security officials told the BBC that the Nigerian officers were questioned, cleared and subsequently permitted to depart. The Nigerian Air Force issued a restrained statement, saying a technical fault forced the crew to divert “in accordance with international aviation safety procedures.” The Air Force insisted the personnel were safe and had been treated courteously.
Relations between Nigeria and the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have deteriorated over the past year. The three Sahel states—each now ruled by a junta—have accused Nigeria of overreach in regional security matters, including recent intervention efforts in neighbouring Benin. Earlier this year, they withdrew from ECOWAS, accusing the bloc, led largely by Nigeria, of political interference and failing to address jihadist violence.
Since withdrawing, the juntas have strengthened cooperation within the AES, reduced engagement with Western partners, and moved closer to Russia for military support.
In a related development, Niger announced new restrictions on goods entering from Nigeria, citing heightened security concerns and an alleged increase in Nigerian military activity along the Sahel corridor. Niger’s customs service directed that all goods originating from Nigeria must be unloaded and inspected at entry points before transit procedures are cleared.
The latest diplomatic friction comes after it was discovered that Burkinabè authorities initially detained the Nigerian officers and impounded the transport aircraft. The Nigerian crew has since been released, but the incident has highlighted growing tensions between Abuja and the military governments across the Sahel.
