President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday issued a strong warning against unconstitutional power grabs in West Africa as he commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for helping foil an attempted coup in Benin Republic.
Tinubu’s statement followed a dawn incident in which mutinous soldiers seized Benin’s national television station and claimed to have toppled President Patrice Talon. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigerian ground troops and air assets, later overpowered the plotters and restored order.
According to a statement by Presidential Adviser Bayo Onanuga, the Beninese government formally sought Nigeria’s military assistance after coup plotters led by Col. Pascal Tigri announced the suspension of democratic institutions.
Acting on the request, Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to secure Benin’s airspace and support operations to flush out the mutineers from strategic locations, including the national broadcaster and a military camp.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all orders were executed promptly and that Nigerian troops were on ground in Benin as the situation unfolded.
Tinubu, who chairs ECOWAS, said Nigeria would continue to defend democratic governance in the region.
“Today, our armed forces stood gallantly to protect constitutional order in the Republic of Benin,” he said. “Nigeria will not tolerate any attempt to destabilise our neighbourhood or undermine democratic values.”
Benin’s government later announced that the coup attempt had been suppressed and stability fully restored.
