The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that its C-130 transport aircraft, which earlier made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, has continued its journey after undergoing safety checks.
NAF spokesman, Ehimen Ejodame, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that the aircraft departed Bobo-Dioulasso later in the evening and arrived safely in Accra, Ghana, in line with an updated flight plan.
“The Nigerian Air Force is pleased to confirm that its C-130 aircraft, which made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, departed this evening and arrived safely in Accra in line with the updated flight plan,” the statement said.
Ejodame explained that the aircraft is now being prepared for onward movement to Portugal through Banjul and Casablanca, where it is scheduled to undergo routine depot maintenance.
The development followed heightened public attention after reports surfaced about the aircraft’s unexpected landing in Burkina Faso, which led to diplomatic engagement between Nigerian and Burkinabé authorities.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, subsequently led a delegation to Ouagadougou on the directive of President Bola Tinubu, where he met with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, before briefing journalists on the outcome of the discussions.
NAF clarified that the landing was strictly precautionary and conducted in line with international aviation safety standards, stressing that there was no emergency and that the aircraft remained serviceable throughout.
Providing further assurance, the Air Force said all personnel on board were safe and that the aircraft was fit to continue its mission.
“The Nigerian Air Force appreciates the concern and support expressed by members of the public and assures Nigerians that all personnel remain safe, the aircraft is serviceable, and the Service continues to operate to the highest standards of safety and professionalism,” the statement added.
Reports had earlier claimed that the NAF crew was detained following the Alliance of Sahel States’ reaction to the aircraft’s landing in Burkina Faso.
The alliance — comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — alleged in a joint statement that the aircraft, carrying 11 military personnel, did not have authorisation to operate within Burkinabé airspace.
“An aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, type C-130, was forced to land today in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency situation while it was operating in Burkinabe airspace,” the statement read on state media in the three countries.
The alliance described the incident as an “unfriendly act” and said its member states had placed their air forces on maximum alert with authorisation to “neutralise any aircraft” found violating the confederation’s airspace.
However, the NAF maintained that the landing followed due process and was purely precautionary.
Ejodame said the aircraft touched down in Burkina Faso due to a “technical concern”.
“Following takeoff from Lagos, the crew observed a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, the nearest airfield, in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols,” he said.