Nigerian fighter jets and ground troops, deployed at the direct request of the Beninese government, played a decisive role in crushing a dawn coup attempt in the neighbouring Republic of Benin on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced.
In a swift military intervention ordered by President Tinubu, Nigeria’s armed forces helped loyalist troops dislodge coup plotters who had seized the National Television and a military camp, restoring constitutional order within hours.
The operation was launched after Nigeria received two urgent formal requests from the government of President Patrice Talon.
According to a state house statement, the first, a Note Verbal from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requested immediate Nigerian air support “to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
A second request sought the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets for surveillance and rapid intervention, as well as Nigerian ground forces for approved missions under Beninese command to contain the armed groups.
Acting on these appeals, President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, ordered the Nigerian Air Force to enter Beninoise airspace. Fighter jets helped secure the skies and support operations to flush out the putschists, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who had announced the overthrow of the government.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were fulfilled. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he stated, noting that Nigerian ground forces are now on the ground in Benin.
Following the successful operation, President Tinubu hailed the Nigerian military’s gallantry and its role as a regional pillar of democracy.
“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,” President Tinubu said.
“Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. 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.”
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