By Atoyebi Nike
Nigeria has acknowledged that its armed forces entered the Republic of Benin on Sunday to help foil a coup attempt against President Patrice Talon. The confirmation came through a late-night statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu.
According to the presidency, Benin submitted two formal requests asking Nigeria to provide immediate military assistance. The first appeal sought emergency air support to dislodge soldiers who seized the national broadcaster and regrouped at a military facility. Onanuga said President Tinubu ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to secure Benin’s airspace and assist loyalist units confronting the mutineers.
A second request asked for surveillance flights and rapid-intervention operations coordinated by Beninese authorities. Nigeria was also invited to deploy ground troops for missions approved by Benin’s military command.
Tinubu praised Nigerian forces for acting swiftly and professionally, saying they operated within the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Defence Staff, confirmed full compliance with the requests, including the deployment of ground personnel.
The attempted takeover began early Sunday when soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri captured Benin’s National Television station and announced the removal of President Talon. Loyal troops, supported by Nigerian intervention, regained control after several hours and forced the plotters out of the facility.
ECOWAS announced the activation of its standby force to prevent further instability. The deployment involves personnel from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Benin now joins a growing list of West African countries confronting military uprisings amid ongoing regional political tensions.
