Burkina Faso’s government has confirmed the forced landing of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft after it allegedly flew into the country’s airspace without authorisation on Monday, December 8, 2025.
According to the Agence d’Information du Burkina (AIB), the state-run news platform, the interception followed a notification from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which said the transport aircraft entered Burkinabe airspace without the mandatory overflight clearance.
The aircraft, carrying 11 Nigerian military personnel—two crew members and nine passengers—was forced to land in Bobo-Dioulasso, a major city in southwestern Burkina Faso.
In a translated statement, AES explained that the aircraft had experienced an in-flight emergency but still failed to secure official approval before entering Burkinabe airspace.
The bloc stated:
“Investigations by Burkinabe authorities highlighted the absence of overflight authorisation for this military aircraft. The Confederation of Sahel States condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.”
AES added that it had ordered its air and anti-aircraft defence systems to remain on maximum alert, with strict instructions to neutralise any unauthorised aircraft entering territories under its defence zone.
As of press time, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) and the Federal Government of Nigeria had not issued an official response regarding the forced landing.
The incident comes amid heightened regional security tensions and tighter border control measures enforced by the Sahel alliance.
