President Bola Tinubu on Sunday praised the professionalism and rapid response of the Nigerian Armed Forces after they assisted Benin Republic in quelling an attempted military takeover.
The commendation followed a dramatic operation in which Beninese loyalist forces, backed by Nigerian ground troops and air support, overpowered soldiers who had seized the country’s national television station at dawn and falsely declared that President Patrice Talon’s administration had been overthrown.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Benin’s authorities formally sought Nigeria’s help through two urgent communications after Col. Pascal Tigri and his associates proclaimed the suspension of democratic structures.
Responding to the request, President Tinubu authorised the deployment of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and support operations targeting key areas held by the mutineers, including the national broadcaster and a military base. Benin also asked for surveillance aircraft and limited ground troop support, with the condition that all missions be directed by Benin’s military command and strictly focused on safeguarding state institutions.
General Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, confirmed that the directives were fully executed and that Nigerian personnel were already active on Beninese soil. “Our duty is to obey the orders of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said.
Tinubu, who currently heads the ECOWAS Authority, emphasized that Nigeria’s intervention aligned with the regional bloc’s Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“Today, our armed forces stood firm in defence of constitutional rule in the Republic of Benin at the request of its legitimate government,” Tinubu stated. “They have played a vital role in stabilising a neighbour and have once again shown their commitment to democratic values. Nigeria remains in solidarity with the government and people of Benin.”
Benin’s government later confirmed that the attempted coup had been neutralised and normalcy restored.