The reason behind the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130’s flight over southwestern Burkina Faso has been clarified.

Brant Philip, a Sahel-region security analyst known for monitoring military movements in West Africa, stated that the aircraft was en route to Senegal, adding that there was “nothing too suspicious” about the flight.

Earlier reports by DAILY POST indicated that at least 11 Nigerian soldiers were being held by the military regime in Bobo-Dioulasso, southwestern Burkina Faso, after their aircraft made an emergency landing while reportedly violating AES airspace.

In a statement shared on X, security analyst Brant Grant confirmed the incident. He explained that the C-130 cargo plane may have initially been heading toward Tamale, Ghana, but its transponder was turned off, possibly due to the emergency, causing it to continue northwest into Burkina Faso where it was forced to land.

Philip noted, “The only plausible reason why the Nigerian Air Force C-130 was flying over southwest Burkina Faso is that it was headed towards Senegal. Nothing too suspicious.”

Reports indicate that the AES (Air and Security forces of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali) keeps its air and anti-air defenses on maximum alert, authorizing action against any aircraft that violates the confederation’s airspace.