President Bola Tinubu has hailed the Nigerian armed forces for their swift and decisive intervention in the Benin Republic on Sunday, following a request from the neighbouring country to help protect its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn.
In a statement issued by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised the military for acting promptly and professionally to restore democratic and constitutional order.
“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,” the President said.
“They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have 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.”
According to the Presidency, Benin Republic made two urgent requests for support through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs via a Note Verbal, citing the need “to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
In response, President Tinubu authorised the deployment of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and dislodge the coup plotters who had occupied the National TV station and a military camp. Benin authorities later requested additional air assets for surveillance and rapid-response operations under Beninese coordination.
A further request was made for Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been carried out and that Nigerian troops were now on ground in Benin.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.
The crisis began when soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a coup on Sunday morning, seizing the National TV station and declaring that President Patrice Talon had been removed, along with the suspension of all democratic institutions.
Loyal government forces, supported by Nigeria’s intervention, regained control after several hours and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV premises, restoring constitutional authority.
