Nigeria’s armed forces played a decisive role in quelling an attempted military coup in the neighbouring Benin Republic on Sunday, restoring constitutional order within hours of the initial takeover.
The swift intervention came following urgent requests from the Beninese government after a faction of soldiers seized the country’s national television station and declared the suspension of democratic institutions.
According to a statement from the Nigerian Presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, acted promptly after receiving two formal communications from Benin authorities. The first request sought immediate air support to secure the country’s airspace and assist loyalist forces in dislodging the mutineers from the National TV station and a nearby military camp.
The second request involved deploying Nigerian Air Force assets for surveillance and rapid intervention operations, alongside ground troops, all operating under the direction of the Beninese military command.
The coup attempt, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, briefly disrupted Benin’s 35-year-old democratic framework. Tigri and a small group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the Military Committee for Refoundation, claimed to have removed President Patrice Talon from office and announced the dissolution of all political institutions. Their broadcast on state television marked the peak of the mutiny, raising immediate fears of wider instability.
Eyewitness accounts, confirmed by international media, reported gunfire near the presidential residence in Cotonou and temporary disruption of state television signals.
Journalists covering the event were briefly held hostage, though no fatalities were immediately reported. The French and Russian embassies, followed by the United States embassy, urged their nationals to remain indoors or avoid areas around the presidential compound for safety.
Following Tinubu’s directives, Nigerian Air Force fighter jets entered Beninese airspace to support loyalist troops in neutralising the insurgents. The operation included multiple precision airstrikes targeting elements of the mutinous group attempting to flee in armoured vehicles.
Sources indicate that the mission, conducted with Beninese approval, was carefully executed to prevent civilian casualties while ensuring the effectiveness of the intervention.
General Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, confirmed that all requests from the Beninese authorities had been fulfilled, with ground forces actively deployed in support roles authorised by Benin’s military command.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.
Hours later, after the insurgents were dislodged and constitutional order restored, Nigeria withdrew its fighter jets as the situation stabilised.
In the aftermath, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian armed forces for their professionalism and swift action. He described their intervention as a demonstration of commitment to democratic values, both in Nigeria and across the West African region.
Tinubu emphasised that the operation was in full alignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, underlining Nigeria’s readiness to assist neighbouring countries in preserving constitutional order.
Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, and Foreign Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, confirmed that the loyalist forces had regained control of the National TV station and other strategic locations.
While some members of the coup group have been apprehended, Colonel Tigri remains at large. Both ministers urged citizens to resume normal activities, assuring them that the country was secure and under control.
The ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) condemned the coup attempt and commended Benin’s government and military for restoring stability. ECOWAS authorised the immediate deployment of its Standby Force, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, to further support constitutional governance and maintain territorial integrity.
The AU reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on unconstitutional changes of government, warning that military interference undermines public trust and threatens regional stability.
This coup attempt is the latest in a string of recent political upheavals across West Africa, following incidents in Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
