The government of Burkina Faso has claimed that an aircraft operated by the Nigerian Air Force violated its airspace and was compelled to land within its territory on Monday.

In a statement personally signed on Monday, December 8, by the country’s junta leader, Assimi Goita, the Burkinabe authorities said the aircraft, carrying 11 Nigerian soldiers, entered its airspace without clearance.

According to the statement, the aircraft was intercepted and made to land in Bobo Dioulasso, one of the country’s major cities.

The Burkinabe government said the Nigerian military plane landed after experiencing what it described as an “emergency situation in flight” while operating within the country’s airspace.

The junta stressed that the development amounted to an airspace violation, insisting that all military aircraft must follow established protocols when entering its territory.

Although details of the emergency onboard were not disclosed, the authorities said investigations were ongoing.

The Nigerian Air Force has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.