ABUJA, Nigeria (Chatnewstv.com) — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed Sunday that he deployed fighter jets and ground troops to neighboring Benin to help foil a military coup, an intervention signaling Abuja’s readiness to confront destabilizing threats in the volatile West African region.
President Tinubu’s office released a statement saying Nigeria’s military acted after President Patrice Talon’s government in Benin issued two requests for aid, including one for “immediate Nigerian air support.”
Nigeria first ordered its fighter jets to enter Benin and “take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped,” the statement said. Ground troops were sent in later to support Benin’s government in “the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Tinubu praised the swift action of his forces, stating they had helped “stabilize a neighboring country.”
The Nigerian statement came shortly after Benin’s President Talon appeared on national television to announce that security forces loyal to him had successfully blocked the attempt to overthrow his government.
Coup Leader Fails, Airstrikes Follow
The coup attempt was led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, who briefly announced the dissolution of state institutions before loyalist forces regained control.
Following the initial failed takeover, key elements of the coup faction attempted to flee Cotonou in armored vehicles, prompting a rapid aerial response from Nigeria. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) reportedly launched multiple precision airstrikes on the fleeing elements, conducted with the full consent of Beninese authorities.
Security sources confirmed the strikes successfully disabled several armored vehicles and blocked escape corridors, resulting in the deaths of multiple insurgents.
“The operation was meticulously planned and executed. Our objectives were clear: neutralize fleeing hostile elements, prevent regrouping, and restore stability in coordination with regional partners,” a credible source was cited as saying in a report by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
A top Nigerian military officer emphasized the commitment to regional stability. “The Nigerian Air Force remains committed to safeguarding regional security and protecting the sovereignty of neighboring states,” the officer was quoted as saying. “Our operations are intelligence-driven, precise, and aimed at preventing any spillover that could threaten our borders.”
Talon Promises Punishment
President Talon of Benin said forces loyal to him “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers.”
He added that the commitment of his forces “enabled us to defeat these adventurers and to prevent the worst for our country.”
Talon promised severe consequences for those involved, stating, “This treachery will not go unpunished.” He did not provide details on casualties but said his thoughts were with victims and those held by the fleeing mutineers.
Benin government spokesperson Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji said 14 people, mostly active-duty soldiers, had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon. It was not immediately clear if the coup leader, Lt. Col. Tigri, had been apprehended.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union condemned the attempt. ECOWAS later ordered the immediate deployment of its standby force, including troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, to help the Beninese government and army “preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.”
