Tinubu Hails Nigerian Troops as Heroes in Swift Benin Coup Foil

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a dramatic display of regional solidarity, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday lauded Nigeria’s armed forces for their lightning-fast intervention that crushed a brazen coup attempt in neighboring Benin Republic, preserving its 35-year-old democracy just hours after plotters struck at dawn.

The commendation came amid reports of chaos in Porto-Novo, where disgruntled soldiers, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, seized the National Television station and a key military camp, declaring the overthrow of President Patrice Talon and the suspension of all democratic institutions.

But Benin’s government, refusing to yield, urgently appealed to Nigeria for aid—prompting a high-stakes cross-border operation that underscored the fragility and fierce defense of West African stability.

According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu wasted no time in mobilizing resources.

Acting on two frantic requests from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs—delivered via a formal Note Verbale—Tinubu directed Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to surge into Beninese airspace. Their mission: seize control from the skies, dislodge the insurgents, and pave the way for ground forces to reclaim the seized sites.

The first plea highlighted the “urgency and seriousness of the situation,” seeking immediate air support to “safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions, and ensure the security of the population.”

The second called for sustained Nigerian Air Force surveillance and rapid strikes, coordinated under Benin’s command, alongside a limited deployment of ground troops “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority” to shield democratic pillars and neutralize armed threats.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed the full execution of these mandates, with Nigerian boots now on the ground in Benin. “Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” Oluyede stated, emphasizing the disciplined response that turned the tide.

What began as a shocking broadcast from the hijacked TV station—where the coup leaders proclaimed an end to Talon’s rule—unraveled within hours.

Loyalist forces, bolstered by Nigerian aerial dominance and infantry support, stormed the facilities, flushing out the plotters and restoring broadcast control. By midday, the airwaves were back under government sway, and reports emerged of the ringleaders in custody or scattered.

In his post-restoration remarks, Tinubu didn’t mince words, framing the episode as a triumph of principle over peril. “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,” he declared.

“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 intervention marks a pivotal moment for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), evoking memories of past regional stands against juntas in Mali and Niger. Analysts note it reinforces Nigeria’s role as a bulwark against democratic backsliding, even as domestic critics question the risks of foreign entanglements.

Benin President Talon, in a brief address, expressed profound gratitude, vowing to probe the coup’s roots and bolster internal defenses.

As celebrations echoed in Abuja and Cotonou, the episode serves as a stark reminder: in West Africa’s volatile landscape, democracy’s guardians often wear fatigues—and neighbors’ calls for help can echo across borders like thunder. Investigations into the plot continue, with ECOWAS pledging full backing to Benin’s recovery.