Nigeria has officially acknowledged that its military intervened in the Republic of Benin on Sunday after a group of soldiers attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
The confirmation was delivered in a late-night announcement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that Abuja acted following urgent appeals from Benin’s government.
The News Chronicle gathered that Benin first reached out through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alerting Nigerian authorities to the gravity of the situation after renegade soldiers seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.
The Beninese government sought immediate air support to secure critical state institutions and protect civilians amid rising tension.
According to the presidency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the deployment of Nigerian Air Force jets, which entered Benin’s airspace to help dislodge the mutinous soldiers.
A second formal request reportedly asked for additional surveillance flights and rapid-response missions, with operations coordinated under Benin’s command structure. Nigeria was also requested to provide ground forces for specific missions tied to safeguarding constitutional order.
President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military for what he described as a timely and disciplined intervention that reflected the country’s long-standing commitment to promoting democratic stability within West Africa.
He commended the troops for upholding regional protocols on democracy and acting in line with ECOWAS principles.
General Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, confirmed that all requests from Benin were carried out, including the deployment of ground personnel. He emphasized that the armed forces merely executed directives from the Commander-in-Chief.
Authorities in Benin said the attempted coup was orchestrated by Colonel Pascal Tigri, who led soldiers to seize the national broadcaster and proclaim the removal of President Talon. Loyalist forces, supported by Nigerian intervention, regained control within hours.
ECOWAS has also deployed elements of its regional standby force, comprising personnel from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Ghana, to deter further unrest.
Benin now joins a growing list of West African nations grappling with military takeover attempts.
