Nigerian military aircraft (NAF)
Burkina Faso authorities have released 11 Nigerian military personnel detained following the emergency landing of a Nigerian C-130 cargo plane in Bobo-Dioulasso, the country’s second-largest city.
The Association of Sahel States (AES) described the unplanned landing as an “unauthorised” entry into Burkina Faso’s airspace, calling it an “unfriendly act.” The detainees, including two crew members and nine passengers, have since been allowed to return to Nigeria, though the status of the seized aircraft remains unclear.
The Nigerian Air Force stated the plane made an unplanned stop due to a technical concern while en route to Portugal for a ferry mission, asserting that the landing followed standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols. Spokesperson Ehimen Ejodame said an investigation is ongoing, adding that the military personnel were treated well and that plans to continue the mission were underway.
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The incident coincided with heightened regional tensions, following Nigerian airstrikes in Benin targeting military personnel allegedly involved in a foiled coup, intensifying scrutiny of cross-border military activities.
A government spokesperson in Abuja confirmed that Nigeria acted under ECOWAS protocols at the request of Beninese authorities after soldiers briefly seized the national broadcaster and attempted to remove President Patrice Talon.
Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasised the region’s fragile democratic institutions and security challenges, calling for urgent investment in the security of West African member states.
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