BREAKING :AES Detains Nigerian Military Aircraft After Encroaching Into Burkina Faso Airspace
By Mabel pearls
A major diplomatic incident has erupted across West Africa after a Nigerian Air Force C-130 military aircraft was detained by Burkina Faso on Monday for allegedly violating its airspace without authorization.
According to a communiqué released by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the aircraft — carrying two crew members and nine military personnel — was intercepted and compelled to land in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The aircraft had reportedly declared an in-flight emergency shortly before touchdown.
Burkinabe security forces immediately took all eleven Nigerian personnel into custody pending investigation. The AES later confirmed that the aircraft had no clearance to enter Burkinabe airspace.
In a strongly worded statement signed in Bamako by General Assimi Goïta, the AES condemned the incident as a “violation of its airspace and sovereignty,” branding the unauthorised entry “an unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and aviation regulations.”
The communiqué further warned that the bloc would adopt a zero-tolerance stance going forward, stressing that AES air and anti-aircraft defense systems have now been placed on maximum alert. The statement declared that the defence systems “have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the Confederation’s airspace.”
Security analysts say the timing of the incident heightens regional unease, coming less than 24 hours after a failed coup attempt in Benin Republic. Nigeria had deployed forces to assist Benin in securing democratic governance, a development that further complicates the geopolitical situation in the sub-region.
While Nigerian authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the detention of its personnel, diplomatic efforts are reportedly underway to secure their release and address the airspace infringement claim.
Observers warn that the AES stance signals a new era of hardened military posture across Sahel territories, raising concerns about the implications of future territorial infractions.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic stakeholders monitoring developments closely.
