The Nigerian Air Force has firmly rejected social media allegations that one of its C-130 Hercules aircraft was involved in espionage or forced to land in Burkina Faso, labeling the claims as false and part of a deliberate disinformation campaign.
In an official statement released on Monday, by Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the NAF clarified the aircraft’s mission. The C-130 was on a routine ferry flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to Portugal for scheduled periodic depot maintenance, a standard procedure to ensure the aircraft’s airworthiness. The statement emphasized that the stopover at Bobo-Dioulasso Airport in Burkina Faso on December 8 was strictly a precautionary landing initiated on safety grounds due to a technical issue. “The precautionary landing… was initiated strictly on safety grounds, in full compliance with standard aviation protocols,” the NAF stated, confirming the flight carried all necessary documentation for such diversions.
The military authority dismissed any suggestions of interception, airspace violation, or hostile intent. It detailed that the eleven personnel on board—a standard composition of aircrew and support officers for such a ferry mission—were treated professionally by Burkinabè authorities. The NAF stressed the aircraft was not equipped for surveillance and was transporting no operational cargo, its sole purpose being transit to a maintenance facility.
Contrasting sharply with Nigeria’s explanation, the incident has been viewed with suspicion by the Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Authorities from the AES described the aircraft’s entry into Burkinabè airspace as unauthorized and subsequently launched an investigation. Initial reports indicated the crew and aircraft were detained, with conflicting updates on their status. While some sources suggested a release following diplomatic contact, others indicated the personnel and aircraft remained held as of mid-December, with Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs engaged in ongoing discussions to resolve the situation.
This diplomatic friction occurs against a backdrop of strained regional relations. The AES nations—all currently led by military juntas—formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in early 2025, citing grievances with the bloc’s approach to their political transitions. This incident, involving a military aircraft from ECOWAS’s most influential member landing without prior diplomatic clearance in an AES country, highlights the tangible tensions following the bloc’s fragmentation.
The NAF concluded its statement by urging the public to rely on verified information, warning that unsubstantiated narratives risk undermining regional stability.
As diplomatic channels work towards a resolution, the episode underscores how routine technical incidents in aviation can rapidly escalate amid political distrust, challenging West African cooperation and the adherence to established international flight norms.
