Eleven Nigerian military officers were detained in Burkina Faso after their aircraft made an emergency landing in the country, Burkinabè security sources told the BBC.
The Air Force C-130 aircraft entered Burkina Faso's airspace on Monday without authorisation, according to the country's Territorial Administration Minister Emile Zerbo.
In a joint statement, the military governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger said their prompt investigation confirmed the violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.
However, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) contended that a technical problem necessitated the landing, which was in line with safety procedures.
The statement from the NAF assured that the crew was safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities. It did not clarify whether they had been detained.
The plane landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, the second-largest city in Burkina Faso, which was the nearest airfield available for an emergency stop.
The NAF stated that the mission to Portugal would continue as planned, maintaining commitment to operational aviation procedures and safety standards.
Political analysts have raised concerns linking this incident to the broader regional context, where earlier this week, Nigeria led a mission of the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, to suppress an attempted coup in Benin.
Additionally, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—the three military-run states—had previously withdrawn from Ecowas, expressing dissatisfaction with the bloc's approach towards restoring democratic governance amidst severe security and political challenges.
