President Bola Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their decisive role in stopping an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin.
The intervention followed an early-morning seizure of Benin’s national television station by renegade soldiers who announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. The situation was later brought under control by Beninese loyalist forces with backing from Nigerian troops and air support.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Beninese government made two formal requests for Nigeria’s military assistance after coup plotters, allegedly led by Col. Pascal Tigri, declared the suspension of democratic institutions.
Tinubu subsequently directed the Nigerian Air Force to deploy fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace while supporting operations to drive the mutineers out of key locations, including the national broadcaster and a military facility.
Benin also sought the deployment of Nigerian surveillance aircraft and ground troops “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all the requests were executed and that Nigerian personnel were already operating on the ground. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu.”
Tinubu, who doubles as Chairman of ECOWAS, said the operation aligned with the bloc’s Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“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.”
Benin’s government later confirmed that the coup bid had been completely crushed and normalcy restored.