Nigerian Armed Forces is said to have intervened in Benin Republic’s attempted military coup by soldiers who seized the country’s national television station.
President Tinubu commended the Armed Forces for supporting loyalist forces in Benin in thwarting the coup that nearly toppled President Patrice Talon.
It is believed that the Government of Benin formally requested Nigeria’s military assistance in two separate communications after coup plotters led by Col. Pascal Tigri announced the suspension of democratic institutions.
According to the statement, Tinubu, acting on the request, ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to take control of Benin’s airspace and assist in flushing out the mutineers from strategic locations, including the national broadcaster and a military camp.
Benin also asked for the deployment of Nigerian surveillance aircraft and ground forces “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups.”
The statement noted that Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests were carried out and that Nigerian troops were already on the ground in Benin.
Benin’s government later announced that the coup attempt had been suppressed and control restored.
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