NIGERIAN FORCES SAVE BENIN REPUBLIC FROM COUP, TINUBU HAILS TROOPS AS DEMOCRACY’S SHIELD

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and decisive action in aiding the Republic of Benin in crushing a military coup attempt early Sunday, thereby preserving the country’s 35-year-old democracy.

The operation was launched following two urgent requests from the Beninese government, which appealed to Nigeria for military assistance to safeguard its constitutional order.

Acting on the directive of President Tinubu as Commander-in-Chief, Nigerian Air Force fighter jets were immediately deployed to secure Beninoise airspace and provide critical air support. This move was pivotal in dislodging coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.

In a formal diplomatic note, Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the “urgency and seriousness of the situation,” requesting Nigerian air support “to protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.” A subsequent request sought the deployment of Nigerian ground forces for missions approved by the Beninese command, aimed at protecting constitutional institutions and containing the armed mutineers.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were fully met. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” General Oluyede stated, noting that Nigerian ground troops are now on the ground in Benin.

The crisis erupted at dawn when soldiers, led by one Colonel Pascal Tigri, announced on national television that they had toppled President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions. After several tense hours, loyalist forces—bolstered by Nigerian military intervention—successfully flushed out the rebels and restored government control.

In a statement following the restoration of order, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military’s valour. “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,” he said.

The President emphasised that Nigeria’s intervention was executed within the framework 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,” Tinubu affirmed.

The successful operation underscores Nigeria’s pivotal role as a regional stabiliser and its commitment to defending democracy in West Africa.