Tinubu hails Nigerian Military for foiling coup attempt in Benin Republic

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and decisive response to the Republic of Benin’s call for help after an attempted military coup threatened to overturn the country’s 35-year democratic system on Sunday.

The commendation was contained in a State House statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who detailed how President Tinubu authorised an emergency military intervention to help restore constitutional order in Nigeria’s western neighbour.

According to the statement, Benin Republic had sent two separate urgent appeals to Abuja, requesting immediate air support and later ground troop deployment as coup plotters seized control of the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.

Responding to the first request, President Tinubu ordered Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets into Beninese airspace to secure critical installations and dislodge the putschists. A second request from Cotonou sought the deployment of NAF assets for surveillance, rapid intervention operations, and the presence of Nigerian ground troops, strictly under Beninese command authority.

The Benin government, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the intervention was required “to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the security of the population.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all directives from President Tinubu were executed promptly.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said, adding that Nigerian troops are now on the ground in Benin as part of stabilisation operations.

The attempted coup, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, saw soldiers take over the National TV and announce the overthrow of President Patrice Talon. The coupists also claimed to have suspended all democratic institutions.

After several tense hours, loyalist forces—bolstered by Nigeria’s military intervention—regained control of key locations, flushing out the mutineers and restoring the country’s constitutional order.

In his remarks after normalcy was restored, President Tinubu hailed the Nigerian military for upholding regional stability and defending democratic ideals 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,” Tinubu said.
“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.”