Anxieties are mounting in Nigeria as eleven military personnel remain in detention in Burkina Faso for the sixth consecutive day following the impoundment of a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft, sparking heated debate over whether Abuja should consider a tougher response.
The aircraft was en route to Portugal for routine maintenance when it made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso on December 8 after the crew detected a technical fault shortly after departing Lagos.
Burkinabe authorities, however, detained both the aircraft and its crew, alleging a violation of national airspace. Burkina Faso’s state-owned news agency, Agence d’Information du Burkina, cited a statement from the Confederation of Sahel States (AES), which claimed investigations showed the aircraft lacked authorization to fly over Burkinabe territory.
The AES bloc described the incident as a breach of sovereignty and said it condemned the action “with the utmost firmness.”
In response, the Nigerian Air Force insisted the diversion was carried out in strict compliance with international aviation safety standards, explaining that the crew opted for the nearest suitable airfield after identifying a technical issue mid-flight. The Air Force also assured Nigerians that the detained personnel are safe and being treated cordially.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that Nigeria’s embassy in Ouagadougou is actively engaging Burkinabe authorities to secure the release of the aircraft and its crew.
“The Embassy of Nigeria in Ouagadougou is engaging with the host authorities to secure their release,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said.
Despite these assurances, frustration is growing at home. Former senator and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Ayodele Arise has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider military action should diplomatic talks fail.
Speaking on an Arise TV program on Saturday, Ayodele Arise argued that Nigeria must be ready to take decisive steps to protect its soldiers, even as it grapples with internal security challenges. He suggested that the mere signal of military readiness could pressure Burkina Faso into releasing the detained personnel.
“We should let them know that they can’t be messing with our country,” Arise said, stressing that while good neighborly relations matter, Nigeria must also defend its sovereignty and armed forces.
The standoff comes at a delicate moment in regional relations, with Burkina Faso currently under military rule and no longer a member of ECOWAS. Security analysts warn that how the crisis is resolved could have lasting implications for Nigeria’s diplomatic and military engagement with Sahel states.
For now, Abuja says it remains committed to a diplomatic solution, even as public pressure for a stronger response continues to grow.
