- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has on Sunday deployed Nigerian troops and fighter jets from the Nigerian Air Force to Benin Republic, foiling the coup attempt in the country.
Tinubu made this known in a statement issued on his official X handle yesterday.
The Nigerian President held that forces had acted under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) mandate and thereby defended constitutional order in Benin.
According to him, the Nigerian air force had been operating at Benin’s request to secure the airspace and carry out rapid missions in coordination with the neighbouring country.
He disclosed that the troops and the fighter jets were deployed to Benin on the invitation of the West African country which requested ground troops to protect the government and counter armed groups, and Nigerian ground forces are now already in the country, Tinubu added.
“Earlier today, on my orders, 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.” Tinubu wrote.
According to reports, there were explosions following suspected airstrikes in the port city of Cotonou, where the government is based.
Benin’s President Patrice Talon in reaction on Sunday evening said the situation was now fully under control, according to media reports.
He thanked the armed forces and military leadership for remaining loyal to the country and the constitution.
The coup attempt would not go unpunished, he said on state television.
NPO Reported that shots were in the early hours of Sunday heard near the presidential palace.
This would be followed by a national television broadcast by a group of military officers seized who declared Talon deposed as they announced their takeover of the government.
The soldiers said the country’s borders had been closed and Lt.-Col. Pascal Tigri had been appointed president of a “military reconstruction commission.”