President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and decisive intervention in Benin Republic on Sunday, helping to protect the country’s 35-year-old democracy from an attempted military coup.
According to a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, responding to two urgent requests from the Beninese government, President Tinubu directed Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and dislodge coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp. The requests, conveyed through a Note Verbal from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sought immediate air support “to safeguard constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the security of the population.”
A subsequent request asked for continued deployment of NAF assets for surveillance and rapid intervention, along with Nigerian ground forces to operate strictly under Benin’s command in defending democratic institutions and containing armed groups.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were executed, including the deployment of ground troops. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
The crisis erupted early Sunday when soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced the overthrow of President Patrice Talon, declaring the suspension of democratic institutions. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigeria, regained control after several hours and flushed out the mutineers.
Following the restoration of order, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their constitutional role and regional commitment. “Today, the Nigerian Armed Forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin. They acted within the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and helped stabilise a neighbouring country,” he said, reaffirming Nigeria’s solidarity with Benin.
