By Our Reporter
The military regime in Bobo-Dioulasso in the South West of Burkina Faso has neutralised a C-130 Nigerian aircraft, belonging to the Nigerian Air Force and captured 11 Nigerian soldiers over violation of AES airspace.
The aircraft was seized and the soldiers reportedly captured after their aircraft conducted an emergency landing while allegedly “violating AES airspace.”.
In a statement by AES shared on X by security analyst, Brant Grant, on Monday night, according to Daily Post, the AES claimed a Nigerian Air Force C-130 aircraft violated Burkinabe airspace and conducted an emergency landing in Bobo-Dioulasso.
The statement also warned that any unauthorized aircraft violating AES airspace will be neutralized.
The statement reads in full: “The Confederation of Sahel States informs the public that a C-130 aircraft belonging to the Nigerian Air Force was forced to land today, December 8, 2025, in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, following an in-flight emergency while operating in Burkinabe airspace. The military aircraft had two (2) crew members and nine (9) passengers on board, all military personnel.
“An investigation was immediately launched by the competent Burkinabe authorities and revealed that this military aircraft lacked authorization to overfly Burkinabe territory.
“The Confederation of Sahel States condemns in the strongest possible terms this violation of its airspace and the sovereignty of its member states.
“Faced with this unfriendly act, carried out in defiance of international law and international civil and/or military aviation regulations, measures are being taken to guarantee the security of the Confederation’s airspace, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its member states, and the safety of the populations of the AES Confederation.
“In this regard, and on the instructions of the Heads of State, the air and anti-aircraft defenses of the Confederation’s airspace, placed on maximum alert in accordance with the Declaration of the College of Heads of State dated December 22, 2024, have been authorized to neutralize any aircraft that violates the Confederation’s airspace.”
This comes after the Nigerian government deployed its military aircraft into Benin Republic on Sunday, following an attempted coup in the neighbouring country.