The delicate diplomatic standoff between Nigeria and the military regime of Burkina Faso has been partially de-escalated following the release of the eleven military personnel detained after their Nigerian Air Force, NAF, C-130 aircraft made an unscheduled landing. The news that the NAF jet regain freedom for its human cargo, comprising two crew members and nine passengers, signals a crucial breakthrough, though the fate of the aircraft itself remains uncertain.
The personnel were released by Burkinabè authorities on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, less than 24 hours after the C-130 landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The release occurred after Burkinabè security and intelligence units conducted preliminary checks and questioning amidst heightened regional suspicions. The officers were reportedly cleared of any involvement in recent coup-related activities, particularly following Nigeria’s military assistance to Benin Republic to quell an insurrection. Upon being cleared, the officers were granted permission to return to Nigeria.
The NAF, through its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, maintained a measured tone, confirming that its crew was safe and had received “cordial treatment” from the host authorities. The NAF insisted the diversion was purely due to a technical concern observed shortly after takeoff from Lagos while the aircraft was enroute to Portugal for a ferry mission, a move strictly compliant with international aviation safety protocols.
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While the NAF jet regain freedom for its crew, the C-130 military transport aircraft itself remains impounded in Bobo-Dioulasso. The Alliance of Sahel States, AES, comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, maintained that the aircraft’s landing was a “violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states,” labeling it an “unfriendly act” carried out without prior authorization.
This assertion, which triggered an immediate security response, contradicts Nigeria’s claim that the precautionary landing was an exercise of the Chicago Convention (Article 25), which requires states to permit and assist aircraft in distress. The continued seizure of the aircraft suggests that the incident has been politicized, serving as leverage by the AES to express frustration with Nigeria’s leading role in ECOWAS and its anti-junta policies.
The Nigerian Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, continues to intensify diplomatic efforts with Ouagadougou to secure the prompt release of the C-130, stressing the need to respect international aviation safety standards despite the prevailing geopolitical tensions. The NAF has already stated that plans are underway to resume the mission as scheduled once the aircraft is released.
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