Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigerian government has confirmed that its armed forces intervened in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, December 7, 2025, following an attempted coup aimed at toppling President Patrice Talon.
The confirmation came in a late-night statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, who said Nigeria acted after receiving two formal requests from the Beninese government seeking urgent military assistance to restore constitutional order.
Benin Requested Air and Ground Support
According to Onanuga, the first request from Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought immediate air support to repel soldiers who had seized the National Television station and regrouped at a nearby military camp.
“Acting on two separate requests from the Government of Benin, President Tinubu first ordered Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped,” Onanuga said.
He explained that Benin’s Note Verbale cited the “urgency and seriousness of the situation” and appealed for help to safeguard national institutions and civilian lives.
A second request called for the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets for aerial surveillance and rapid-response operations, coordinated directly by Beninese authorities.
Onanuga added that Nigeria was also asked to provide limited ground support, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.”
Tinubu Commends Nigerian Troops for Defending Democracy
President Tinubu lauded the Nigerian military for its swift and disciplined intervention, describing their role as vital to maintaining regional stability and democratic governance.
“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,” he said.
Tinubu praised the troops for making Nigerians proud through their dedication to “sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999.” He reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering solidarity with the people of Benin.
Chief of Defence Staff: ‘Ours Is to Follow Orders’
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all Benin’s requests were carried out, including the deployment of ground troops.
“Ours is to comply with the order of the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, President Tinubu,” he stated.
Coup Attempt Led by Colonel Tigri Foiled
The attempted coup began early Sunday when mutinous soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigri stormed Benin’s National Television station, claiming to have deposed President Talon and suspended democratic institutions.
Loyalist forces, supported by Nigerian air and ground assets, swiftly regained control after several hours of confrontation, restoring stability and constitutional authority.
ECOWAS Deploys Regional Standby Force
In a related development, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced the immediate deployment of its standby force to Benin to prevent further instability.
The regional bloc vowed to take “all necessary measures to defend constitutional governance” and confirmed that the joint force includes troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sierra Leone.
Benin now joins the list of West African nations targeted by military takeovers amid a troubling resurgence of coups across the region.
