President Bola Tinubu has praised Nigeria’s military for its swift and decisive response to Benin Republic’s request for help in quelling an early-morning coup attempt that threatened the country’s 35-year-old democracy.
Following two formal requests from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Tinubu ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure the nation’s airspace and assist in dislodging the coup plotters who had seized National TV and a military camp. The requests also called for surveillance and rapid-response operations, as well as the deployment of Nigerian ground forces under Benin-led coordination to protect constitutional institutions.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all directives were executed, with Nigerian forces now actively assisting in Benin.
The coup attempt, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, briefly disrupted constitutional order when the soldiers claimed to have overthrown President Patrice Talon and suspended democratic institutions. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigeria, swiftly regained control, restoring stability.
Commending the armed forces, President Tinubu said, “Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as defenders of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin. Acting within the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, they have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have made us proud of their unwavering commitment to democracy. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of Benin.”
