Burkina Faso’s military authorities have confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft was compelled to land in the country after reportedly entering its airspace without clearance.
According to a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States and published by the state-run Agence d’Information du Burkina, the aircraft, carrying two crew members and nine soldiers, made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday.
Burkinabe officials say preliminary checks showed the aircraft lacked the required authorisation to fly over the country.
The regional bloc described the incident as a violation of the sovereignty of its member states and said its air and anti-aircraft units had been placed on maximum alert.
The Confederation warned that any further unauthorised flights risk being intercepted or neutralised.
For now, Abuja has not issued an official response, and the Nigerian Air Force is yet to comment on the detention of its personnel.