Authorities in Burkina Faso have arrested and detained 11 Nigerian soldiers and the aircraft that brought them over allegations of violating the country’s airspace. Burkina Faso is one of the three countries that broke away from the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) as a result of coups.
The 11 soldiers whose identities have not been given were part of the standby force or among the troops deployed to crush the coup in neighbouring Benin Republic.
This is contained in a report by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-run news agency.
The AES in a statement on Monday, announced that a Nigerian aircraft with 11 soldiers violated Burkina Faso’s airspace and was forced to land in the country.
According to the statement, AES said the incident was a violation of sovereignty, vowing to protect its airspace.
“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 Burkinabe airspace. The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel.
“An investigation was immediately opened by the competent Burkinabe services and highlighted the lack of authorisation to fly over Burkinabe territory for this military apparatus.
“The Confederation of the Sahel States most strongly condemns this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.
“Faced with this unfriendly act carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation rules, arrangements are made to guarantee the security of the Confederal airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its Member States, as well as the safety of the Populations of the Confederation AES.
“In this regard, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the Arian and anti-aircraft defences of the Confederal space put on maximum alert, in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024, were authorised to neutralise any aircraft that would violate the confederal space.”
The Nigerian government is yet to issue a statement on this development.
President Bola Tinubu had last week ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces to Benin Rep to qiell the coup attempt in the country.
In doing so, military authorities deployed both ground and air forces to the country with a view to carrying out the order.
