President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the gallantry of Nigeria’s armed forces after they swiftly intervened to help restore constitutional order in the Republic of Benin following a coup attempt early Sunday.
The intervention followed two urgent requests from the Beninese government, which appealed for immediate Nigerian military assistance to protect its 35-year democratic system after soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri seized the National Television station and claimed to have toppled President Patrice Talon.
Responding to the first request, President Tinubu ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets into Benin’s airspace to help dislodge the putschists from the national broadcaster and a military camp where they had regrouped. A Note Verbale from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the situation as urgent, calling for support to “safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
A second request sought the deployment of additional Nigerian air assets for surveillance and rapid intervention missions under Beninese coordination, as well as Nigerian ground troops for operations approved strictly by Benin’s command authority.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been executed and that Nigerian ground forces were now on Beninese soil. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
Loyal forces in Benin, backed by Nigerian troops, regained control of the National TV station after several hours and flushed out the coup plotters.
In a statement issued after the restoration of democratic order, President Tinubu hailed the Nigerian military for upholding regional stability and democratic values.
“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,” he said. “They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and 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.”
The statement was issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
