President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and decisive intervention in stopping an attempted military coup in the neighbouring Benin Republic on Sunday.
The President’s commendation follows reports that loyalist forces in Benin, backed by Nigerian military support, successfully dislodged mutinous soldiers who had seized the national television station and announced the suspension of democratic institutions.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Beninese government formally sought Nigeria’s military assistance in two separate letters after soldiers led by Col. Pascal Tigri claimed to have overthrown President Patrice Talon.
Acting on the request, President Tinubu—who also chairs ECOWAS—ordered the deployment of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and assist in neutralising the coup plotters at critical locations, including the national broadcaster and a military camp. Nigeria also dispatched surveillance aircraft and ground forces, operating strictly under missions approved by Benin’s military command.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all directives were executed and that Nigerian troops were already on the ground in Benin Republic.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.
Tinubu noted that the intervention was fully aligned with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, which mandates member states to protect democratic institutions across the region.
“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,” the President 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.”
Benin’s authorities have since confirmed that the coup attempt has been successfully suppressed and constitutional order restored.