Nigeria's Federal Government has begun diplomatic negotiations to secure the release of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft and its personnel currently detained in Burkina Faso over an alleged breach of the country’s airspace.
The aircraft and its crew have now spent three days in Burkinabe custody, with senior Nigerian military officials confirming on Wednesday that the matter has been escalated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“They are still being held, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now fully in charge of the process. We expect that the issue will be resolved through diplomatic channels,” a military source told The PUNCH.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, also confirmed that the Nigerian Embassy in Ouagadougou had initiated engagement with the host authorities.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou is engaging with the host authorities to secure their release,” he said.
Burkina Faso’s state news agency had reported that the aircraft, carrying 11 soldiers, was compelled to land in Bobo-Dioulasso on Monday after allegedly entering the country’s airspace without approval. A statement issued by the Confederation of Sahel States, which includes Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, condemned the incident as a serious breach of sovereignty.
According to the statement, investigations by Burkinabe security officials showed the aircraft lacked authorisation to fly over the country.
The Nigerian Air Force, however, clarified that the C-130 crew made a precautionary landing after detecting a technical fault shortly after takeoff from Lagos on 8 December 2025. The aircraft, which was en route to Portugal on a scheduled ferry mission, diverted to the closest available airfield in line with global aviation safety standards.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force noted that the detained personnel were safe and being treated courteously. He added that efforts were ongoing to rectify the technical problem and resume the mission as planned.
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