THIS DAWN — Did Nigerian military aircraft make emergency landing at Burkina Faso or was it a ruse?
Here’s a fact‑check report on whether a Nigerian military aircraft made an emergency landing in Burkina Faso — and whether the reports claiming it was a “hoax” hold up.
This was drawn from the most recent, publicly available statements from both Nigerian and Burkinabe authorities.
What Nigerians say
Abraham Madu, via Corporate Nigeria, wrote:
Poor Argument Of “Emergency Landing”
Emergency landing my foot! Facts show that there was absolutely nothing emergency here.
If the argument on emergency landing of the Nigerian military aircraft was said in 1952, I would not have doubted it.
We are in 2025…
The Map below shows that Nigerian Aircraft before landing in Burkina Faso on “emergency” ground, have better friendly options of Togo, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire respectively.
These countries are closer and are allies under ECOWAS bloc to Nigeria.
That is in the case of emergency situation.
So, fact shows that there is absolutely nothing emergency here for a reasonable person to subscribe to.
The push for emergency narrative can only deepen the conflict as Burkina Faso would keep holding the Nigerian Plane and its personnel until their position that the aircraft violated Burkina airspace and was forced down is proven otherwise through technological reviews.
Do pilots push the landing gear of an aircraft in emergency situation without radio communication to the land tower of the situation he founds himself or you just pull down the aircraft to any place that appears like an airport to him?
Was there Mayday communication between the Nigerian military aircraft for emergency landing clearance to Burkina Faso Airport authority before shifting the landing gear?
The more one wants to defend Nigeria, the more difficult and stupider it appears in this case…
The emergency story is a hoax and makes one look stupid.
…The Nigerian Government should dispatch Ghanian team or Okocha who has relative friendship with Ibrahim for help.
If Nigeria chooses gra-gra here, Russia is standby watching. The world is not regulated by mere narrative rather by technology.
Kayode Adebayo noted:
I told you Nigeria was conducting reconnaissance in those countries, if you know the meaning of reconnaissance.
It was a deliberate venture by Nigeria to gather intelligence information in Burkina Faso and others.
It wasn’t a mistake or any emergency landing.
The phrase ’emergency landing’ is universal phrase used by militaries all over the world during reconnaissance to justify their presence in foreign countries during the missions.
Burkina Faso didn’t know Nigeria entered their air space until they landed, because they lack the technology.
What Happened
On 8 December 2025, a transport aircraft from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), a C‑130, diverted to and landed in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
The NAF says the landing was a precautionary — due to a technical issue observed shortly after takeoff on a ferry mission to Portugal.
All crew and passengers aboard (reports say 11 military personnel) were reportedly safe and treated well.
The aircraft’s mission authorities described the landing as following standard international aviation safety procedures and protocols.
Conflicting Claims: Violation vs. Emergency Landing
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — which includes Burkina Faso — issued a statement accusing the Nigerian aircraft of entering Burkinabe airspace without prior clearance.
According to this claim, the landing was not merely precautionary: the plane allegedly violated sovereign airspace and was subsequently intercepted and forced down.
The AES described the incident as an “unfriendly act,” insisted the aircraft lacked overflight authorisation, and warned member states’ air defenses to treat future violations as hostile.
What We Know & What Remains Unclear
Known / Confirmed
A Nigerian C‑130 did land in Bobo-Dioulasso on 8 December 2025.
The NAF publicly described the landing as precautionary, due to a technical fault.
Crew and passengers are reportedly safe, and Burkina Faso authorities treated them well.
Unverified / Disputed
Whether the aircraft had legitimate overflight clearance before entering Burkinabe airspace is disputed. The AES claims there was no clearance.
Whether the landing qualifies strictly as an “emergency/precautionary landing” or as an “unauthorised airspace violation” remains contested.
Whether the people detained (if any) or aircraft seizure assertions are accurate — conflicting reports make this unclear. Some sources claim detention and seizure; others (including NAF) deny these.
Conclusion: Not a Hoax — But Dispute Persists
Based on currently available evidence, the landing appears genuine and documented.
It was not likely a hoax in the sense of a fabricated incident.
The Nigerian Air Force has acknowledged the diversion, and independent reporting confirms the event.
However, the claim that the landing violated Burkina Faso’s airspace sovereignty remains contested — not yet definitively proven or disproven.
There is no public, independently validated record confirming that the aircraft either had or lacked overflight clearance.
The event likely occurred, but the motivations, authorisation status, and legal implications continue to be disputed.
They require further verification from neutral aviation authorities or international observers before a definitive conclusion can be drawn.
