The Nigerian Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft, previously detained in Burkina Faso, has safely touched down in Banjul, The Gambia, as it resumes its journey to Portugal for scheduled maintenance.
In a statement released on Tuesday, NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame confirmed the aircraft’s arrival in Banjul after transiting through Accra, Ghana. “The Nigerian Air Force confirms that its C-130 aircraft, which earlier made a precautionary landing during a ferry flight, has successfully continued its journey and landed safely in Banjul, The Gambia,” the statement read. It added that the updated flight plan routes the aircraft through Casablanca en route to Portugal for depot maintenance, with all personnel safe and the aircraft serviceable.
The NAF expressed gratitude to authorities in Ghana, The Gambia, and other overflown countries for their support, while acknowledging the concern shown by Nigerians throughout the incident.
This development brings closure to a diplomatic episode that began on 8 December 2025, when the C-130, carrying 11 personnel on a routine ferry mission, made a precautionary landing in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, due to a technical issue detected shortly after takeoff from Lagos. According to the NAF, the diversion followed standard international aviation safety protocols, selecting the nearest suitable airfield.
However, Burkina Faso authorities, part of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) alongside Mali and Niger, viewed the entry as an unauthorised airspace violation, leading to the temporary detention of the aircraft and crew. Initial reports from AES sources described the landing as compelled, prompting heightened alerts across the confederation.
Diplomatic efforts swiftly intervened, with a high-level Nigerian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, meeting Burkina Faso’s junta leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, in Ouagadougou on 17 December. The talks resulted in the release of the 11 personnel and the aircraft, with both sides emphasising constructive engagement and shared regional challenges. Tuggar later apologised for irregularities in overflight authorisations, reinforcing commitments to bilateral cooperation.
The incident highlighted underlying tensions in West Africa, particularly after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) earlier in the year, citing grievances over security and political interference. Nigeria, a key ECOWAS member, has been involved in regional stabilisation efforts, adding context to the sensitivity surrounding military movements.
Ferry flights, such as this one, are standard procedures for transporting aircraft to maintenance facilities without full operational loads, often requiring spaced movements through designated airfields for safety. The C-130 Hercules, a versatile transport workhorse in the NAF fleet, has undergone periodic refurbishments to maintain operational readiness.
