President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the gallantry of Nigeria’s military following their swift response to a request from the Government of the Benin Republic to help safeguard its 35-year-old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn on Sunday.
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
According to the statement, President Tinubu, acting on two separate requests from the Beninese authorities, directed Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter Benin’s airspace to assist in dislodging the coup plotters who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a military camp.
Bellnews reports that the Benin Republic, through a Note Verbale from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urgently requested Nigerian air support to safeguard constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the safety of its population.
A second request sought the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninese airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention under Benin-led coordination, as well as the deployment of Nigerian ground forces for missions approved by the Beninese Command to protect constitutional institutions and contain armed groups.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been met, adding that Nigerian ground forces were already on Beninese soil.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
The constitutional order in Benin was disrupted earlier on Sunday when soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a coup, took over the National Television station, declared the suspension of democratic institutions, and claimed to have ousted President Patrice Talon.
Hours later, loyal government forces, supported by Nigeria, regained control and flushed out the coup plotters.
Following the restoration of democratic order, President Tinubu praised the Nigerian armed forces for their decisive action.
“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 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