President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday praised the courage and professionalism of Nigeria’s Armed Forces after they responded swiftly to an urgent request from the Government of the Republic of Benin to help thwart an attempted military coup.
According to the Presidency, Benin’s government made two formal requests for immediate support after coup plotters struck at dawn, seizing the national television station and attempting to dismantle the country’s 35-year-old democratic order.
Nigeria Deploys Air and Ground Forces
Following the first request, President Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to enter Beninese airspace and support efforts to dislodge the coup faction from key installations, including the national broadcaster and a military camp where the plotters had regrouped.
Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbale, appealed for urgent Nigerian intervention “to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the security of the population.”
In a second request, the Benin authorities sought continued deployment of NAF air assets for surveillance and rapid-intervention missions, under the coordination of Benin’s command structure. They also asked for Nigerian ground troops, strictly for operations approved by Beninese military leadership.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been carried out, stating:
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, President Tinubu.”
Coup Attempt Neutralised
The attempted coup was led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who appeared on Benin’s state television early Sunday to announce the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, claiming that democratic institutions had been dissolved.
Hours later, loyalist forces—supported by Nigerian military assets—regained control of the national broadcaster and other strategic locations, flushing out the coup plotters and restoring constitutional order.
Tinubu: Nigeria Stands With Benin
In his statement following the restoration of stability, President Tinubu commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their decisive action.
“Today, the Nigerian Armed Forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin at the invitation of its government.
Our 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 and ideals since 1999.
Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”
