Burkina Faso releases detained Nigerian Air Force crew after emergency landing

Burkina Faso has released 11 Nigerian military personnel who were detained after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft made what authorities in Ouagadougou described as an unauthorised landing at the Bobo-Dioulasso airfield.

The detained officers — two crew members and nine passengers — were questioned over suspicions that the aircraft might have been linked to the recent failed coup attempt in Benin Republic. They were later cleared and have since returned to Nigeria.

While the Nigerian government insisted the aircraft made a technical emergency landing while en route to Portugal, Burkinabe authorities maintained that the plane violated their airspace by entering without prior diplomatic clearance, prompting an immediate security response. Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, said the action was taken strictly in line with national security protocols.

READ ALSO:Burkina Faso grounds Nigerian aircraft, detains military personnel over airspace violations

In a joint statement, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — operating under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — condemned the incident as a breach of sovereign airspace and an “unfriendly act,” adding that the episode placed their air forces on heightened alert.

The Nigerian Air Force clarified that the crew followed international aviation safety procedures and noted that their personnel were treated with respect throughout their detention.

The incident adds to growing tensions between Nigeria and the AES bloc, which recently formalised its withdrawal from ECOWAS

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