The Federal Government has intensified diplomatic efforts to secure the release of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and 11 military personnel being held in Burkina Faso for allegedly violating the country’s airspace.
The troops and the aircraft, now entering their third day in custody, were detained by the Burkinabe military authorities, who accused the Nigerian aircraft of flying into the Sahel nation without the required clearance.
Senior military officials confirmed on Wednesday that the personnel remained in detention but said the matter had been escalated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They have not been released yet. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has taken over the matter, and we are hopeful that their intervention will yield positive results soon,” a military source said.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, also confirmed that diplomatic discussions were underway.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou is engaging with the host authorities to secure their release,” he stated.
Burkina Faso’s state-run Agence d’Information du Burkina earlier reported that the aircraft was compelled to land after entering the country’s airspace without authorisation.
A statement from the Confederation of Sahel States condemned what it described as a “serious violation” of the sovereignty of its member states.
The investigation, the statement noted, “highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”
However, the Nigerian Air Force clarified that the C-130 had diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical issue detected shortly after its departure from Lagos on December 8, 2025.
According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, the diversion was a precautionary measure consistent with international aviation safety procedures.
“All personnel on board are safe and have been treated cordially by the Burkinabe authorities,” he said, adding that plans were in place to continue the ferry mission to Portugal once the issue is resolved.
The Federal Government says it remains committed to ensuring the safe return of its personnel and the aircraft while reaffirming its adherence to operational and safety protocols.
