Eleven Nigerian military officers were detained in Burkina Faso after their aircraft made an emergency landing, Burkinabè security sources told the BBC.
The Air Force C-130 aircraft entered Burkina Faso’s airspace on Monday without authorisation, according to Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo.
In a joint statement, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger said their investigation confirmed the “violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said a technical problem forced the plane, en route to Portugal, to land in accordance with safety procedures. The NAF added that the crew was safe and had received cordial treatment from the host authorities, without mentioning their detention.
The aircraft landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso’s second-largest city, which the NAF said was the nearest airfield available for an emergency stop.
The account from Burkina Faso and its Sahel allies contrasts with Nigeria’s explanation. The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) described the landing as an “unfriendly act” and said the aircraft had entered Burkinabè airspace without prior authorisation.
The AES said an immediate investigation revealed the lack of clearance and warned that the air forces of the three countries had been placed on maximum alert, authorised to “neutralise any aircraft” violating their airspace.
