Why NAF C-130 entered Burkina Faso airspace – Security expert reveals
The only reason Nigerian Air Force C-130 entered the South West Burkina Faso airspace has been clarified by a Sahel security analyst who tracks military activities across West Africa.
The analyst, Brant Philip, explained that the aircraft was likely heading to Senegal, stressing that there was “nothing too suspicious” about its movement.
Analyst explains flight path
The development follows Monday night’s report that at least eleven Nigerian soldiers are being detained by Burkina Faso’s military authorities in Bobo-Dioulasso.
They were arrested after their aircraft made an emergency landing while allegedly “violating AES airspace.”
AES authorities confirmed the detention in a statement shared on X by another security analyst, Brant Grant, on Monday night.
Philip wrote on X: “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.”
Possible cause of emergency landing
He added that the aircraft’s transponder went off before the emergency landing.
According to him, this occurred either intentionally or due to a technical problem that forced the aircraft to go quiet before it moved northwest into Burkina Faso.
“I initially guessed the NAF C-130 cargo plane was heading towards Tamale, Ghana, but it turned off its transponder, either intentionally or related to the emergency situation, and went ghost and continued northwest towards Burkina Faso where it was forced to land in an emergency,” he explained.
AES on maximum alert
Reports indicate that AES placed its air and anti-air defence systems on maximum alert.
The confederation, which includes Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, has also authorised its defence units to neutralise any aircraft violating its airspace.
