Burkina Faso has announced that a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft carrying 11 military personnel was forced to land on Monday after allegedly entering its airspace without authorisation.

The incident was first reported by the Agence d’Information du Burkina, the state-run news agency, which published a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).

According to the translated statement, the aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8, 2025. On board were two crew members and nine passengers, all Nigerian military personnel.

Burkinabe authorities said a subsequent investigation “highlighted the absence of authorisation to fly over the territory of Burkina Faso for this military aircraft.”

The AES condemned the development, describing it as a serious breach of sovereignty. It warned that air and anti-aircraft defence systems in the region had been placed on maximum alert and were authorised to neutralise any unauthorised aircraft entering the confederation’s airspace.

As of press time, neither the Nigerian Air Force nor the Federal Government had issued an official response.