In a dramatic twist that has sent shockwaves across West Africa, Burkina Faso’s ruling junta has detained eleven Nigerian military officers and seized a Nigerian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft after it made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso on Monday—an incident now shrouded in diplomatic tension and suspicion.

According to a late-night statement released by the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — the confederation of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — the Nigerian aircraft was intercepted while operating inside Burkinabe airspace and was forced to land due to what authorities described as an in-flight emergency. The AES stated that the plane had no authorisation to enter the country’s airspace, accusing Nigeria of a “grave violation” of its sovereignty.

Burkinabe officials confirmed the aircraft carried two crew members and nine military passengers, all of whom were immediately taken into custody and later identified as personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

An investigation has been launched, with the AES insisting that the incident represents a serious breach of regional security protocols.

In a sign of escalating tension, the Sahel bloc announced that its air-defence and anti-aircraft systems have been placed on maximum alert, warning that any further violation could be met with force.

As of the time of this report, Abuja has not released any official statement regarding the detention of its officers or the seizure of its aircraft.

With diplomatic relations already strained between Nigeria and the breakaway Sahel junta alliance, this latest development risks widening the geopolitical rift in a region already navigating military transitions, regional withdrawals, and shifting alliances.