𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐁𝐔 𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐏𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has applauded Nigeria’s armed forces for what he describes as a swift and decisive intervention in the Republic of Benin after an early morning coup attempt shook the country’s 35-year democracy.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Benin’s government sent two urgent requests for help after soldiers loyal to Colonel Pascal Tigri seized the National TV station and attempted to topple President Patrice Talon.

President Tinubu ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets into Beninoise airspace to take control of the skies and dislodge the coup plotters from key locations, including the state broadcaster and a military camp where the renegade soldiers regrouped.

A diplomatic Note Verbal from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had asked Nigeria for immediate air support to safeguard constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population. A second request sought surveillance, rapid intervention operations and the deployment of Nigerian ground forces, all under the coordination of Benin’s command authorities.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all the requests were carried out. He said Nigerian troops are now on ground in Benin and operating strictly under missions approved by Benin’s military leadership.

The coup attempt briefly disrupted governance on Sunday after the mutineers announced the suspension of democratic institutions. Loyal Beninese forces, backed by Nigerian support, later regained control of the National TV station and ended the coup attempt.

Reacting to the restoration of order, President Tinubu praised Nigerian troops for upholding regional stability and acting in full alignment 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. 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.”