The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified why one of its transport aircraft was forced to land in Burkina Faso, amid growing concerns following allegations from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES).
In a statement issued on Tuesday, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the aircraft made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso due to a technical fault, dismissing claims that it deliberately violated Burkina Faso’s airspace.
This comes after the AES — a bloc made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger Republic — accused Nigeria of breaching its airspace with a C-130 aircraft said to be carrying 11 soldiers. The alliance, led by junta leaders who withdrew their countries from ECOWAS, alleged that the aircraft was forced to land on Monday after entering restricted airspace.
The AES statement, signed by Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, condemned the incident and warned that any aircraft violating its airspace would be “neutralised” as part of heightened defensive measures.
However, Ejodame stressed that the NAF aircraft had no intention of entering AES territory and only diverted to the nearest available airfield after the crew detected a safety-related issue.
“Following takeoff from Lagos, the crew observed a technical concern which necessitated a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, in line with international aviation protocols,” he said, adding that all personnel are safe and have received cordial treatment from local authorities.
He confirmed that the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal and that arrangements are being made for the journey to continue as planned.
“The Nigerian Air Force remains committed to strict compliance with operational procedures and safety standards while ensuring the protection of its personnel,” he added.
