ABUJA — The Presidency on Sunday night revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu authorized a swift military intervention to help foil an attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, following two urgent requests from the Beninese government.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu directed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets to enter Benin’s airspace and dislodge coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.
Benin, through a diplomatic Note Verbal, appealed for immediate Nigerian air support “to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population,” the statement said. A second request sought the deployment of NAF assets for surveillance and rapid-response operations coordinated by Benin, as well as Nigerian ground troops for missions approved by Beninese authorities.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were executed, including the deployment of Nigerian ground forces now operating inside Benin.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
The coup attempt, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, saw mutinous soldiers claim to have toppled President Patrice Talon after taking over the National Television station and announcing the suspension of democratic institutions. Loyalist forces, backed by Nigerian support, retook control within hours and flushed out the plotters.
Following the restoration of order, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military for its rapid response and commitment to protecting democracy across West Africa.
“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,” Tinubu said. “Our armed forces acted within the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values since 1999.”
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s solidarity with Benin, stating, “Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”
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