Senator Shehu Sani has weighed in on the failed plot to assassinate Burkina Faso’s military leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Wednesday, Sani noted that Traoré would continue to face such “plots and machinations” due to his defiant political stance. The former lawmaker, who represented Kaduna Central from 2015 to 2019 emphasized that any leader who stands against imperialism and neocolonialism must remain constantly vigilant.
Okay News had reported that the Burkinabe government confirmed Traoré narrowly escaped the sophisticated plot on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Security Minister Mahamadou Sana revealed that the operation was allegedly orchestrated by Lieutenant Colonel Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, the former leader whom Traoré ousted in 2022. Intelligence services reportedly intercepted the plan in its final hours, preventing a coordinated strike on the head of state and other key government institutions.
Investigations further suggest that the conspirators received foreign backing, including an alleged sum of 70 million CFA francs sourced from Ivory Coast. Authorities have already made several arrests in connection with the failed coup, which involved plans to use explosives or a direct assault on the leader’s residence.
While Traoré continues to grapple with domestic security challenges and violence from terrorists, he remains a popular figure among those who support his pan-Africanist vision and rejection of Western influence.
