Authorities in Burkina Faso have released 11 Nigerian Air Force personnel who were held after their C-130 military transport aircraft made an unexpected landing at the Bobo-Dioulasso airfield earlier this week. The release follows diplomatic engagement after the aircraft’s unscheduled arrival triggered heightened security protocols.
The incident occurred when the aircraft, on a ferry mission to Portugal, developed a technical problem shortly after departing Lagos and was forced to make a precautionary landing at the nearest available airfield. Burkina Faso officials initially described the landing as unauthorised, saying the aircraft entered national airspace without prior clearance. The episode prompted a robust response from the country’s security forces and drew concern from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a regional bloc of military governments. Nigerian authorities maintained that the diversion was a standard safety measure under international aviation protocols and stressed that the crew and passengers were treated well during the period they were held. After preliminary checks by Burkinabe security agencies, all 11 officers including two crew members and nine passengers were cleared and allowed to return home.
The aircraft’s status remains unclear following the episode, but the swift release of the personnel underscores a degree of diplomatic resolution amid regional tensions. The incident comes in the context of strained relations between Nigeria and the AES bloc, which has criticised recent military interventions in West Africa and questioned ECOWAS-led approaches to regional security.
