The Federal Government says it is examining the situation after reports from Burkina Faso indicated that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft was compelled to land in Bobo Dioulasso for allegedly entering the country’s airspace without proper clearance.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said authorities were still verifying the details.
“We are monitoring the situation and will issue a statement when we receive adequate information,” he told reporters.
Burkina Faso’s government earlier announced that a Nigerian Air Force transport aircraft carrying eleven military personnel was forced to land on Monday after reportedly breaching its airspace.
The development was first disclosed by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, which circulated a statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States. According to the statement, the aircraft — with two crew members and nine soldiers on board — carried out an emergency landing while flying through Burkinabe airspace.
The release added that an investigation by Burkinabe officials “highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”
“The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C-130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace.”
“The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel,” the Sahel regional body said.
Authorities in Burkina Faso later reiterated that their findings “highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device.”
The Confederation denounced the occurrence as a violation of sovereignty, stressing it “condemns with the utmost firmness this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member States.” It further warned that its air and anti-aircraft systems were on maximum alert and “were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the Confederate space.”
