President Bola Tinubu has explained the reason for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic following a military coup attempt on Sunday, November 7, 2025.
Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stated that the deployment of the Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic was a direct and necessary response to safeguard regional stability and constitutional order in the neighboring country.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass had reported that on Sunday, a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, appeared on state television to announce the dissolution of all state institutions and the removal of President Patrice Talon.
Benin’s government later announced that the coup attempt had been suppressed and control restored.
Speaking of the development, Tinubu confirmed that the deployment of the Nigerian troops to the Benin Republic came at the request of the Beninese Government, which sought Nigerian air support for surveillance, airspace control, and rapid intervention against the coup plotters.
A statement signed by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said 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.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he was quoted as saying.
Tinubu, who also chairs ECOWAS, said the intervention was in line with the bloc’s Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
Tinubu also saluted the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender of democracy
“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 have 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,” the President said.
Tinubu’s confirmation comes amid reports that the Nigerian government allegedly bombed some parts of the Benin Republic.
However, the government of the Benin Republic or the Nigerian government is yet to react to the reports making rounds as of press time.
