President Bola Tinubu has applauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for stepping in quickly to help stop an attempted military coup in the Republic of Benin on Sunday.
Trouble began when a group of soldiers, led by Col. Pascal Tigri, took over Benin’s national TV station and claimed they had removed President Patrice Talon from power. With democratic institutions suddenly under threat, the Beninese government sent two urgent messages to Nigeria, asking for immediate military support.
According to a statement from Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President responded without delay. He ordered the Nigerian Air Force to secure Benin’s airspace and assist loyal forces in flushing out the mutineers from key locations, including the national broadcaster and a military base. Benin also requested surveillance aircraft and limited ground troops strictly for operations authorised by its own command.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all the President’s instructions were carried out and that Nigerian troops were already on ground in Benin.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Tinubu, who currently serves as ECOWAS Chairman, described the intervention as part of the regional commitment to protect democracy.
“Today, our armed forces stood firm as defenders of constitutional order in Benin. They helped stabilise a neighbour and made us proud of their dedication to democracy,” he said. “Nigeria stands solidly with the government and people of Benin.”
Benin’s authorities later announced that the coup attempt had been successfully crushed and calm restored.
