Nigeria’s military helps Benin Republic stop an attempted coup led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri after soldiers seized a TV station. Here’s what happened.

 A group of soldiers in the Republic of Benin on Sunday briefly took over a national television station, claiming they had removed the civilian government from power. However, the Benin government later announced that the coup attempt had failed.

The mutinous soldiers accused President Patrice Talon of poor leadership and mismanaging the country. Their takeover was short-lived, as security forces quickly moved in to restore order.

How the Coup Attempt Was Stopped

According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, spokesperson for Nigeria’s President, the Nigerian government played a major role in stopping the uprising.

He praised the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift response, saying their intervention prevented the disruption of Benin’s 35-year democratic journey. Onanuga explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu deployed Nigerian Air Force fighter jets after receiving an urgent request from the Benin government.

The jets were ordered to secure Benin’s airspace and disperse the coup plotters who had seized the national TV station and regrouped at a military facility.

The statement emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to defending democratic governance in West Africa, noting that the intervention followed ECOWAS protocols on democracy and good governance.

Benin’s Call for Assistance

Benin’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs formally requested immediate support from Nigeria. Their request included:

Air surveillance

Rapid intervention to protect government institutions

Deployment of a small number of Nigerian ground troops under Benin’s command

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that the Nigerian military carried out all the tasks approved by President Tinubu.

Who Led the Failed Coup?

Reports identify Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri as the officer behind the attempted overthrow. Tigri briefly announced himself as leader of a “Military Committee for Refoundation,” which controlled parts of Cotonou for only a few hours before being overpowered.

Following the failed coup, his location remains unknown, and multiple sources suggest he may be on the run.