Benin coup: Nigerian Air Force C-130 makes safe precautionary landing in Burkina Faso, NAF clarifies

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified that a C-130 aircraft diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, on Monday, December 8, 2025, due to a technical issue observed shortly after takeoff from Lagos.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the landing was a “precautionary” measure aligned with “standard safety procedures and international aviation protocols.”

The statement reassures that “NAF crew is safe and have received cordial treatment from the host authorities.”

Furthermore, plans are already underway to “resume the mission as scheduled.”

The NAF thanked everyone for their support and emphasised its “professional commitment to strict compliance with operational procedures and safety standards, ensuring the protection of its personnel while fulfilling its constitutional mandate.”