On Sunday 7 December, 2025, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Armed Forces to “stand gallantly” and “defend and protect” constitutional order in Benin Republic following invitation of the Beninese government.
Al Jazeera reports: “Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed deploying fighter jets and ground troops to neighbouring Benin to help foil a coup attempt by a group of Beninese soldiers.
“In a statement on Sunday, Tinubu’s office said Nigeria’s military intervened in Benin after President Patrice Talon’s government issued two requests for help, including for “immediate Nigerian air support”.”
President Tinubu posted on his official X account that, the Nigerian Armed Forces “acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.”
The Nigerian Leader assured the government and people of Benin of Nigeria’s unwavering support; he said, the effort by the Nigerian military “helped stabilise a neighbouring country”.
President Tinubu said: “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 @ecowas_cedeao 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.”
President Tinubu’s statement came briefly after Talon, the President of Benin, appeared on national television and announced his security forces had successfully defeated the attempt to overthrow his government.
Beninese President, Talon, has promised to punish those behind the coup; he said, forces loyal to him “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers”.
Talon added that his thoughts were with the victims of the coup attempt and with a number of people who have been held by the fleeing mutineers.
