By Abu Ismail
Burkina Faso’s military junta has been accused of turning a routine aviation safety procedure into a political weapon against Nigeria following the failure of a recent coup attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic.
Security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, said the continued detention of 10 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel in Bobo-Dioulasso after their aircraft made a precautionary landing signals growing hostility by the Burkinabè authorities toward Nigeria.
According to Makama, the NAF C-130 aircraft carried out a technical precautionary landing fully in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations, which explicitly require the safety, protection and assistance of flight crews during emergency landings.
> “Emergency landings are globally recognised safety procedures, and ICAO rules demand that aircrews must be protected and assisted. Turning such a routine safety measure into a diplomatic confrontation is nothing short of childish and vindictive,” Makama said.
The Nigerian Air Force earlier confirmed that the landing was conducted “in accordance with standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols,” adding that the crew initially received cordial treatment. However, diplomatic sources told Makama that the prolonged detention of the aircrew contradicts those assurances and raises serious concerns.
Makama linked Burkina Faso’s action to Nigeria’s quiet but decisive role in supporting Benin Republic’s constitutional order, which foiled a coup attempt believed to have enjoyed sympathy within elements of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a bloc dominated by military juntas in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
> “Detaining an emergency crew is not an accident. It is an act of vengeance,” Makama said. “Burkina Faso is attempting to send a message to Nigeria after the failed coup in Benin, but the message only exposes their irresponsibility and insecurity.”
He warned that weaponising ICAO-governed emergency procedures for political retaliation poses a grave threat to regional and global aviation safety, noting that such actions could discourage pilots from declaring technical emergencies in the future, potentially leading to loss of lives.
Makama described the junta’s conduct as an “embarrassing display of hostility” and a dangerous precedent that undermines international aviation norms and regional stability.
He urged the Nigerian government to immediately summon the Burkinabè Ambassador for a formal explanation and called for a firm diplomatic response to prevent further provocations from AES member states.
Makama also appealed to West African governments, ICAO, and international aviation authorities to condemn the incident and demand the immediate and unconditional release of the detained NAF personnel.
> “The world must not allow a reckless military regime to twist an aviation safety incident into a political attack on Nigeria,” he said.
Abuja Network News
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