The Presidency has disclosed new details about how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu played a decisive role in stopping Sunday’s attempted military coup in the Republic of Benin. According to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu authorised the deployment of Nigerian military assets—both in the air and on the ground—after the Beninese government urgently requested assistance.
The attempted coup unfolded when a faction of soldiers, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, appeared on Benin’s national television announcing the removal of President Patrice Talon’s government. In response, Benin swiftly reached out to Nigeria for immediate intervention to prevent the crisis from escalating.
Onanuga explained that President Tinubu first directed Nigerian Air Force fighter aircraft to cross into Benin’s airspace. Their mission was to secure strategic locations, including the national broadcaster’s headquarters and a military camp where the coup plotters had gathered to consolidate power. Official communications from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through a diplomatic Note Verbal, emphasized the urgency and the need to “safeguard constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the safety of civilians.”
A second formal request followed, calling for the deployment of Nigerian surveillance aircraft and rapid-response units to operate under Beninese coordination. The Beninese government also asked for Nigerian ground troops to support operations approved strictly by Benin’s military command to protect key institutions and suppress armed groups involved in the attempted takeover.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been carried out and that Nigerian ground forces were already operating in Benin Republic as part of the stabilisation effort. President Tinubu, reacting to the swift intervention, praised the Nigerian military for standing as a “defender of democracy” within the West African region. He noted that Nigeria’s response was fully aligned with the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
ECOWAS, in a separate statement, also strongly condemned the attempted coup, branding it an unlawful attempt to undermine the democratic will of the Beninese people. The regional bloc vowed to back Benin with all necessary support—including the activation of its standby force—to defend the country’s constitution and territorial integrity. It applauded the Beninese government for promptly containing the situation and warned that those behind the plot would be held individually and collectively accountable for any harm or destruction resulting from their actions.
President Patrice Talon, who first assumed office in 2016 and secured re-election in 2021, remains in power following the failed coup attempt.