Tinubu Hails Nigerian Military for Thwarting Coup Attempt in Benin Republic
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and decisive intervention in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, following a request from the Beninese government to help protect its 35-year-old democracy from an attempted military takeover.
This was contained in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement , President Tinubu authorised an immediate deployment of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets into Benin airspace after receiving a Note Verbal from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The request sought urgent air support to repel coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.
In a second request, the Benin authorities called for the deployment of NAF assets for surveillance and rapid-intervention missions, as well as Nigerian ground troops to support efforts to safeguard constitutional institutions.
These ground forces were to operate strictly under missions approved by the Beninese command.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests from Benin had been executed.
“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 were already on Beninese soil.
The attempted coup was led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who announced the suspension of democratic institutions after claiming to have overthrown President Patrice Talon.
The coupists took control of the National TV station before loyal government forces backed by Nigerian military support retook the facility and restored order.
Following the successful operation, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military for upholding democratic values in the region and acting in line with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
“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,” he said. “They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”
