Nigeria Orders Deployment of Military Forces to Benin

(MENAFN) Following an urgent appeal from Benin, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commanded his nation's military to assist in neutralizing coup conspirators, according to a statement released by the presidential office Sunday.

Benin's government sought immediate aerial intervention from Nigeria, requesting the activation of Nigerian Air Force resources over Beninese territory alongside ground troop deployment. The mission: safeguard Benin's constitutional framework and governmental structures while protecting civilians, the statement confirmed.

Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria's Chief of Defense Staff, confirmed all assistance requests were granted and executed.

The statement revealed that "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."

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission announced Sunday its authorization to deploy the ECOWAS standby force—comprising military personnel from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, and Ghana—to support Benin's government and armed forces in preserving constitutional legitimacy and territorial sovereignty.

Earlier Sunday, military personnel commandeered Benin TV, the state broadcasting network, declaring President Patrice Talon had been "removed from office." Hours following the attempted overthrow, Benin's Minister of Interior and Public Security Alassane Seidou announced that government forces had successfully thwarted a mutiny designed to destabilize state institutions.

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