The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) maintains that its C-130 aircraft’s touchdown in Burkina Faso was a precautionary step carried out in line with established procedures.
According to the Director of Public Relations and Information at the Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the landing occurred because of a “technical concern”.
In his Tuesday statement, Ejodame explained that the crew noticed an issue shortly after departing Lagos during a ferry mission to Portugal on 8 December 2025, prompting a diversion to Bobo-Dioulasso, the nearest available airfield, in keeping with international aviation protocols and safety guidelines.
Despite reports suggesting that Burkinabe authorities had detained 11 crew members over an airspace violation, Ejodame noted that the entire team “is safe and has received cordial treatment from the host authorities”.
He added that plans were underway to continue the mission as originally scheduled. NAF also expressed appreciation to Nigerians for the support “received during this period”, reaffirming its commitment to professionalism, operational procedures, and safety standards.
Meanwhile, the Alliance of Sahel States — comprising Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso — criticised the aircraft’s emergency landing, describing it as an “unfriendly act”. The bloc stated that the aircraft, which carried 11 military personnel, did not have authorised passage through Burkina Faso’s airspace and warned that its air forces were on heightened alert with instructions to “neutralise any aircraft” violating the confederation’s airspace.