Eleven Nigerian military personnel remain in custody in Burkina Faso after their C-130 aircraft made an emergency landing in Bobo Dioulasso. Authorities there arrested the soldiers on suspicion of links to a rescue mission tied to a recent coup attempt in Benin Republic. Burkina Faso’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Emile Zerbo, accused the plane of entering the country’s airspace without proper authorisation.
Former Ekiti lawmaker and All Progressives Congress chieftain, Senator Ayodele Arise, called on President Bola Tinubu to launch military action for their release. He argued that such a move would force Burkina Faso’s leadership to reconsider, stressing the need to show neighbours that Nigeria cannot be trifled with. “I think we should move and do something,” Arise said, adding that a strong response could prompt a swift rethink from the Burkinabe president.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed the detention on December 13, 2025. He clarified that the Nigerian Air Force aircraft had no connection to Nigeria’s recent military intervention in Benin to crush the coup. Tuggar emphasised that officials handle the delicate matter through diplomatic channels and ongoing talks.
The incident highlights strains in regional ties, as Nigeria’s forces stay stretched fighting insurgency and banditry at home. Arise praised the Benin operation but warned against allowing the detention to linger, citing historical precedents like Israel’s bold rescue in Entebbe. As discussions continue, the soldiers’ fate hangs on whether diplomacy prevails or stronger measures emerge to bring them home safely.
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