The presidency has revealed that Benin Republic asked Nigeria for help in putting down the attempted coup, requesting both air operations and ground troops.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the requests and directed the Nigerian Air Force to secure Benin’s airspace.
In a statement released late on Sunday, Onanuga said the first request involved sending Nigerian fighter jets to dislodge the coup plotters from the national broadcaster and a military camp where they had gathered.
He added that Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, sought immediate air support to protect constitutional order, national institutions, and civilians.
The spokesman noted that a second request asked Nigeria to deploy air assets for surveillance and quick-response missions under Benin’s coordination.
Benin also requested Nigerian ground troops, strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority, in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups.
Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s chief of defence staff, said all the requests had been carried out and confirmed that Nigerian ground personnel were already in Benin.
President Tinubu praised the armed forces for defending Benin Republic’s 35-year-old democracy, saying, “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. 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.”
