The Presidency said, “The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”Benin Republic Coup Failed

In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination.

The Benin government also requested Nigerian 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.”

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, said all the requests have been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.

“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he said.

Constitutional order was upended in the Republic of Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour, when some soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri announced a coup on Sunday morning. The putschists seized the National TV and claimed they had toppled President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions.

It took some hours before the government’s loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the National TV.

“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.”

Shedding light on the coup attempt, Beninoise Foreign Minister, Olushegun Adjadi Bakari and Minister of Interior, Alassane Seidou, said in separate interviews that the coup plotters had taken control of state TV and the signal had been cut for several minutes.

A group of soldiers, led by Lt-Col Pascal Tigri, who is now on the run, made a broadcast, saying they had ousted President Patrice Talon and suspended the constitution.

The group, which labelled itself the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of the president and all political officeholders and dissolution of all democratic institutions.

Soldiers arrested

Some other members of the group have since been arrested, while their leader, Tigri remains on the run.
Following the coup scare, the French and Russian embassies urged their citizens to stay indoors for their safety.

The US embassy equally advised its citizens to stay away from Cotonou, especially the area around the presidential compound.

A presidential adviser also assured that the president is safe and is at the French embassy.

Nigerian Air Force conducts multiple precision airstrikes on fleeing coup plotters

While the coup drama lasted, the Nigerian military deployed fighter aircraft to the Benin Republic, according to security sources.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) carried out strategic airstrikes on fleeing elements of the foiled military coup, according to security sources.