President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian armed forces for their swift and decisive action in assisting the Government of Benin Republic to repel a coup attempt that threatened the country’s 35-year-old democracy on Sunday.
The coup, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, disrupted constitutional order at dawn when the putschists seized the National Television station and a military camp, claiming to have ousted President Patrice Talon and suspended democratic institutions.
Acting on urgent requests from the Benin government, President Tinubu immediately ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and support operations aimed at dislodging the coup plotters. In a Note Verbal, Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested “immediate Nigerian air support in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the security of the population.”
A second request from Benin sought the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Beninese-led coordination. The government also requested Nigerian ground forces “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been fulfilled, with Nigerian troops now operating on Beninese soil. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.
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The intervention played a crucial role in restoring control to loyal Beninese forces, who, with Nigerian support, were able to flush out the coup plotters from the National TV and secure key installations.
In his remarks following the successful restoration of constitutional order, President Tinubu commended the professionalism and dedication of the Nigerian armed forces. Through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, he said, “Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government. Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”
Analysts have described Nigeria’s prompt response as a demonstration of its leadership role in West Africa and a reaffirmation of its commitment to maintaining peace and democratic governance in the region. The operation underscores the importance of ECOWAS protocols, which provide for collective action against unconstitutional changes of government.
With Benin’s democracy now restored, Nigeria has reinforced its position as a regional stabilizer, while also showcasing the readiness and discipline of its military in responding to crises in neighbouring countries.
