President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their rapid and decisive intervention in helping restore constitutional order in the Republic of Benin following a failed coup attempt early Sunday.
According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Government of Benin Republic made two urgent requests to Nigeria for immediate military support after a group of soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri seized the National Television station and announced the suspension of democratic institutions.
Responding to the calls for assistance, President Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to take control of Benin’s airspace in order to dislodge the mutinous soldiers from key locations, including the national broadcaster and a military base where the coup plotters attempted to regroup.
In a separate diplomatic communication, Benin also sought Nigeria’s deployment of air assets for surveillance and rapid intervention, as well as the dispatch of ground troops for operations approved by Benin’s military command to protect constitutional institutions and counter armed groups.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been carried out and that Nigerian ground forces were already operating in Benin under the approved mandate.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.
The coup attempt disrupted the country’s 35-year democratic system before loyal forces, with Nigeria’s support, regained control of the National TV station and restored civilian authority.
In a statement following the stabilization of the situation, President Tinubu commended the professionalism and commitment of Nigeria’s military personnel.
“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. “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.”
