The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force C 130 aircraft and 11 military personnel being held in Burkina Faso remain in detention, days after the incident that led to their stoppage. The clarification follows conflicting media reports suggesting that the troops had already been freed.
The aircraft, on a ferry mission to Portugal, reportedly developed a technical issue shortly after leaving Lagos on 8 December 2025. In line with international aviation procedures, the crew made a precautionary landing at Bobo Dioulasso airfield in Burkina Faso, identified as the nearest suitable airport.
However, authorities under the Confederation of Sahel States, which includes Burkina Faso, treated the landing as an unauthorised entry into their airspace. The regional bloc subsequently placed its air and anti aircraft systems on high alert and ordered an investigation into the circumstances of the flight.
As a result, the C 130 and its occupants two crew members and nine passengers have been prevented from departing, with the detention now stretching into several days. Diplomatic sources suggest the standoff may be influenced by wider political tensions between Nigeria and Sahel states that recently left ECOWAS.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the Nigerian government is engaging Burkina Faso through “usual diplomatic channels” to resolve the matter. He confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou is in direct contact with Burkinabe officials, though specific reasons for the continued delay have not been formally communicated.
Military sources quoted in the report added that the aircraft was, at one point, prepared to depart but received unclear signals from local authorities, forcing the issue to be escalated diplomatically. They stressed that the detained personnel are safe and being treated cordially by their hosts while negotiations continue.
The Federal Government has assured that all diplomatic options are being explored to secure the swift release of both the aircraft and the soldiers. Officials say the episode underlines the need for clearer regional protocols on emergency military flights and airspace use, especially amid current political frictions in West Africa.
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