NAF clarifies aircraft diversion to Burkina Faso amid diplomatic tension
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its C-130 transport aircraft was diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, due to a “technical concern” that prompted the crew to execute a precautionary landing during a ferry mission to Portugal on 8 December 2025.
In a statement on Tuesday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame explained that the aircraft departed Lagos but soon developed a technical issue that required an immediate safety response.
He said the crew followed “established safety procedures and international aviation protocols” in diverting to the nearest suitable airfield.
Ejodame emphasised that all personnel on board were safe and were treated cordially by Burkinabè authorities. He added that arrangements were underway for the crew to resume their mission once the aircraft’s technical problem is resolved.
The NAF reiterated its commitment to global aviation safety standards and the welfare of its personnel.
However, the incident has stirred diplomatic tension after SaharaReporters earlier claimed that Burkina Faso’s junta detained 11 Nigerian officers and seized the aircraft for allegedly entering the country’s airspace without clearance.
A late-night statement from the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — the bloc formed by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger after breaking away from ECOWAS — confirmed that the Nigerian aircraft was “forced to land” following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabè airspace.
The development has added strain to already fragile relations between Abuja and the Sahelian military regimes.
