The Government of Burkina Faso has confirmed that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 military personnel was forced to land on Monday after allegedly entering the country’s airspace without authorization.
The incident was reported by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state news agency, which published a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) detailing the circumstances surrounding the interception.
According to the translated statement,
“The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C130 aircraft belonging to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkina Faso airspace. The military aircraft had two crew members and nine passengers on board, all of them military personnel.”
The AES said an investigation by Burkina Faso authorities revealed that the plane did not obtain the required authorization to fly over the country.
The investigation “highlighted the lack of authorization to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military device,” the statement added.
The regional bloc condemned the incident, calling it a violation of the sovereignty of its member states.
The AES said it “strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its Member States.”
It also warned that its air and anti-aircraft defense systems had been placed on maximum alert and authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates AES-controlled airspace.
At the time of filing this report, there has been no official response from the Nigerian Air Force or the Federal Government regarding the crash landing.