President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the courage and swift responsiveness of Nigeria’s Armed Forces following their successful intervention to protect the Republic of Benin’s 35-year democracy from an attempted military coup on Sunday.
Responding to two urgent requests from the Government of Benin Republic, President Tinubu immediately directed the Nigerian Air Force to enter Benin’s airspace and support efforts to neutralize the coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.
In a Note Verbale issued through Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the neighbouring country sought immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”
A second request followed, seeking the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets for surveillance and rapid-intervention missions under Beninese coordination. The authorities in Benin also asked for the deployment of Nigerian ground troops “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were promptly executed, with Nigerian ground forces now operating within Benin.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
The attempted coup was launched early Sunday by soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who announced on national television that they had removed President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions. They took over the National TV station and attempted to consolidate their hold on power.
However, loyal Beninese forces, with critical assistance from Nigeria, regained control within hours and flushed the coup plotters out of the National Television premises.
Following the restoration of constitutional order, President Tinubu commended the Nigerian military for their professionalism and unwavering commitment to the protection 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. 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,” the President said.
The statement was issued by Bayo Onanuga,
Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy).
