By mmn reporter 8.12.2025
Benin Republic is picking up the pieces after Sunday’s aborted coup with Nigerian troops assisting in restoring normalcy in the country.
Benin President Patrice Talon had requested for the Nigerian presence in the heat of the mutiny by elements of the Benin army. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu promptly approved the deployment of troops and the air power to the neighbouring country to the west.
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. 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,” added General Oluyede.
President Talon said the arrival of the Nigerian troops was timely and they helped in quelling another over throw of constitution democray in West Africa.
“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.”