Nigeria Helps Benin Republic Foil Coup by Renegade Soldiers

Nigeria,on Sunday , helped the Republic of Benin foil a dawn coup attempt by renegade soldiers who seized the national television station and announced the overthrow of President Patrice Talon.

Acting on an emergency request from the Beninese government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the deployment of Nigerian Air Force fighter jets and ground troops to support loyalist forces in restoring constitutional order in the
neighbouring country.

According to official communication, Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent two separate requests — the first asking Nigeria to take control of its airspace to dislodge the mutineers, and the second seeking surveillance assets and ground forces to secure key state institutions.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were executed immediately. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said, noting that Nigerian forces were already on Beninese soil assisting their counterparts.

The coup attempt, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, saw the dissident troops seize the National TV in Cotonou and proclaim the suspension of democratic institutions. Hours later, joint operations by loyalist soldiers, supported by Nigerian intervention units, reclaimed the broadcast station and restored normalcy.

President Tinubu, in a statement after stability was restored, praised the Nigerian armed forces for what he described as a historic defence of democracy in West Africa.
“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, noting that the action was aligned with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

West Africa has seen a resurgence of military takeovers in recent years, including in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger. ECOWAS — which has repeatedly condemned unconstitutional changes of government — has struggled to reverse many of these seizures of power.

Benin, once hailed as one of the region’s most stable democracies, has not experienced a coup in 35 years. Analysts say a successful overthrow could have further destabilised the region and emboldened anti-democratic forces.

Nigeria’s rapid intervention underscores its traditional role as a stabilising power in West Africa. While ECOWAS has used diplomatic pressure and sanctions in previous crises, direct military assistance at the request of a member state is rare and could set a precedent for future responses to coups.

Observers now await details on how long Nigerian forces will remain in Benin and what joint security arrangements may follow the failed mutiny.