The government of Burkina Faso has announced that a Nigerian Air Force plane carrying 11 military personnel was forced to land in the country on Monday. The aircraft reportedly entered Burkina Faso’s airspace without permission.
According to a statement released by the Confederation of Sahel States, the Nigerian C-130 aircraft landed in Bobo Dioulasso after an in-flight emergency. The plane had two crew members and nine passengers, all of whom were soldiers.
Authorities in Burkina Faso later investigated the incident and said the aircraft did not have official approval to fly across their territory.
The group strongly condemned what it described as a violation of its airspace and sovereignty. It also stated that its air defence systems had been placed on high alert and could stop any unauthorized aircraft in future.
Nigeria has not yet issued any official reaction to the incident.
