Nigeria Intervenes in Benin to Quell Attempted Coup, Restores Constitutional Order
Nigeria swiftly responded to a coup attempt in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, deploying air and ground forces to help restore constitutional order after mutinous soldiers tried to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
The intervention was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy. According to the statement, Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets entered Benin’s airspace to dislodge insurgent troops who had seized the national television station and regrouped at a military camp.
The action followed two urgent requests from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which sought immediate Nigerian air support to protect constitutional governance, national institutions, and civilian lives. The second request asked for Nigerian air assets for surveillance and rapid-response operations, alongside ground forces deployed under Beninese command for approved missions.
Confirming Nigeria’s compliance, Chief of Defence Staff General Olufemi Oluyede stated, “Ours is to follow the order of the Commander-in-Chief, President Tinubu.” He added that Nigerian forces had already been deployed on Beninese soil.
The crisis began early Sunday when a group of soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced on National Television that they had toppled President Talon and suspended democratic institutions. Loyalist forces, reinforced by Nigerian air support, swiftly regained control of the broadcaster and expelled the mutineers from their positions.
In a statement following the operation, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military for their role in defending democracy in West Africa.
“Today, the Nigerian armed forces acted gallantly to protect constitutional order in the Republic of Benin, following the government’s invitation,” he said. “Our troops operated within the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, stabilising a neighbouring country and demonstrating their commitment to democratic values since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of Benin.”
Tinubu reiterated Nigeria’s support for Benin, emphasizing the need to prevent anti-democratic forces from destabilizing the region.
