President Bola Tinubu has praised the Nigerian military for its swift intervention in the Benin Republic following an early-morning coup attempt that briefly disrupted the French-speaking West African country’s 35-year democratic rule.
A statement issued yesterday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Nigeria acted on two separate emergency requests from the Benin government, which sought immediate military support to defend its constitutional order.
Nigeria deploys air and ground forces
According to the Presidency, Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to secure Benin’s airspace and dislodge the soldiers who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military base.
The Benin government, in a diplomatic note, also requested the deployment of Nigerian ground troops for missions approved by its military command.
READ ALSO: ECOWAS Condemns Coup Attempt in Benin, Hails Army
General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff, confirmed that all requests were carried out. He said Nigerian ground forces were already in Benin in line with the Commander-in-Chief’s directive.
The coup attempt was led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, whose group seized state TV and announced the suspension of the constitution and democratic institutions. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigeria, retook the station and restored order after several hours.
Tinubu hails Nigerian forces
Tinubu commended the Nigerian armed forces for defending democratic order in line with ECOWAS protocols, saying they “helped stabilise a neighbouring country” and upheld the values Nigeria has championed since 1999.
Benin ministers recount how coup was thwarted
Benin’s Foreign Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, and Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, said the plotters controlled state TV briefly before loyal troops regained power.
Gunfire was reported near President Patrice Talon’s residence in Cotonou, and some state media workers were held hostage.
The ministers confirmed that the situation was brought under control, with most of the army remaining loyal to the government.
READ ALSO: Benin Government Says Coup Attempt Foiled
Several soldiers involved in the mutiny were arrested, while the leader, Tigri, remains at large. Foreign embassies, including those of France, Russia, and the United States, advised their citizens to avoid affected areas during the unrest.
NAF Carries Out Precision Airstrikes
Security sources told Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad Region, that Nigerian fighter jets conducted coordinated airstrikes on fleeing coup elements attempting to escape Cotonou in armoured vehicles.
The operation, officials said, was conducted with Benin’s consent and followed international protocols to minimise collateral damage.
Nigeria later withdrew its aircraft after stability was restored.
Zagazola Makama said comparing Nigeria’s rapid intervention in Benin with its 15-year domestic war against terrorism is misleading, noting that the Benin operation was a short, high-precision multinational mission that Nigeria executed effectively.
He argued that the failed coup has exposed the weakness of Sahel military juntas, halted their push to expand authoritarian influence, and signalled that ECOWAS will no longer tolerate unconstitutional takeovers.
Makama adds that the juntas are now under pressure as insecurity, economic collapse, and public frustration worsen, while a stronger regional order emerges.
ECOWAS, AU condemn coup attempt
ECOWAS and the African Union denounced the attempted coup, describing it as an assault on democratic rule.
Both bodies pledged strong support for Benin and emphasised that unconstitutional changes of government violate regional and continental charters.
The AU warned that coups undermine public trust and destabilise countries, urging the mutineers to cease all illegal actions and return to their barracks.
ECOWAS orders deployment of Standby Force
Following consultations among member states, ECOWAS ordered the immediate deployment of its Standby Force to Benin.
Troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana will support the Benin government in securing its institutions and territorial integrity.
The regional bloc said the deployment aligns with its 1999 conflict-prevention protocol and aims to stabilise the country while protecting democratic governance.
A Region Shaken by Frequent Coups
The Benin incident adds to a growing list of coups across West and Central Africa. In recent years, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, and Niger have experienced military takeovers.
Only days ago, Guinea-Bissau saw a mutiny that its ousted president claimed was staged.
The wave of coups has led Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to withdraw from ECOWAS and form the Alliance of Sahel States, a bloc now working toward a confederation.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
