Coup Attempt: Nigeria confirms sending fighter jets, soldiers to Benin Republic

Nigeria has confirmed sending fighter jets and ground troops to Benin Republic after President Patrice Talon’s government requested urgent military assistance to halt a coup attempt on Sunday.

In a State House statement, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift and coordinated response.

Recall, an attempted coup had occurred earlier on Sunday when soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri attacked President Talon’s residence, seized the national television station, and declared that they had taken over the government.

According to the presidency, Benin sent two separate requests for help. The first asked Nigeria to take control of Benin’s airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national broadcaster and a military camp where they had regrouped.

President Tinubu immediately ordered the Nigerian Air Force to deploy fighter jets into Benin’s airspace.

The second request sought Nigerian air assets for surveillance and rapid-intervention missions, as well as the deployment of Nigerian ground forces “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been carried out.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.

Loyalist forces, assisted by Nigeria’s military, later regained control of the national TV station and neutralised the coup plotters.

Following the restoration of civilian authority, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian military.

“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. 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,” he said.