Burkina Faso Frees 11 Nigerian Officers After ‘Unauthorised’ Landing 

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso- Burkina Faso has released eleven Nigerian military officers detained after their Air Force transport aircraft made what the authorities described as an unauthorised landing in the country, officials confirmed on Tuesday, in a development that has further exposed rising distrust between Abuja and the Sahel juntas.

The personnel were aboard a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 that touched down on Monday in the western city of Bobo-Dioulasso.

Meanwhile,  Nigerian government insisted the diversion was triggered by a technical fault and described it as a “technical emergency landing” during a flight to Portugal.

But Burkinabè officials countered that the aircraft entered their airspace without permission—an allegation that immediately triggered security protocols.

Territorial Administration Minister, Emile Zerbo, said the crew violated Burkina Faso’s aviation procedures by flying in “without authorisation,” prompting security forces to move in and detain the occupants for questioning.

Following the incident, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—now operating as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—released a joint statement accusing Nigeria of breaching the bloc’s sovereignty.

According to the AES, its investigation confirmed a “violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.”

The alliance described the aircraft’s presence as an “unfriendly act” and announced that its air forces had been placed on maximum alert with orders to “neutralise any aircraft” that entered AES airspace without clearance.

AES officials said the C-130 carried two crew members and nine military passengers. Burkinabè security sources told the BBC that the officers were released after initial interrogation and allowed to depart once checks were completed.

The Nigerian Air Force, however, offered a more restrained version of events. In its statement, the NAF maintained that a mechanical issue forced the crew to divert to the nearest available airfield in line with international safety protocols. It also said the personnel were safe and had received “cordial treatment” from Burkinabè authorities—without expressly admitting they had been detained.

Relations between Nigerian government  and the three juntas have deteriorated sharply over the past year.

Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—each ruled by military governments—accuse Nigeria of using its regional influence to interfere in their internal and security affairs, including operations linked to the Benin crisis.

The three countries withdrew from ECOWAS earlier this year, claiming the bloc had become a tool of political pressure.

Since then, they have strengthened military and diplomatic ties within the AES, distanced themselves from France, and expanded cooperation with Russia.

In a related development, Niger has announced new restrictions targeting imports from Nigeria, citing heightened security concerns and mounting suspicion over Nigerian military activities in the Sahel.

The directive, issued by Colonel Mohamed Yacouba Siddo, mandates that all goods originating from Nigeria must now be offloaded and inspected at Niger’s entry points before any transit procedures can continue.

“For security requirements, all goods originating from Nigeria must be unloaded and inspected at the entry offices before any transit formalities,” Siddo said.