The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved a request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following last weekend’s attempted military coup in Cotonou.
During plenary, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, read the letter from Tinubu and confirmed that lawmakers had unanimously consented to the deployment. “An injury to one is an injury to all,” he declared, stressing that instability in a neighbouring state could pose a threat to the entire sub-region.
The presidential letter explained that the intervention aims to support the Beninese government’s efforts to restore peace and stability after a group of soldiers attempted to overthrow the government. The request is part of a broader regional security mission under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and cites Section 5, Part II of Nigeria’s Constitution — including prior consultation with the National Defence Council — as the legal basis for deployment.
The coup attempt occurred on Sunday when a faction calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) seized control of state television in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon. In response, Benin’s regular army, according to authorities, regained control of key installations.
As part of the intervention, Nigeria had already provided air support at the request of Benin’s government. The deployment of ground troops now forms part of a coordinated effort by ECOWAS. A regional standby force drawn from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana has been ordered into Benin to help preserve constitutional order and safeguard territorial integrity, the bloc said.
According to the Metro Standard report, constitutional authorities in Benin have declared three soldiers wanted, including Tigri Pascal, a captain named Ousmane Samary, and Major Captain Sambieri Castro.
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio — who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State — praised Talon and Benin’s security forces for foiling the coup, and thanked member states for their solidarity. “With normalcy now restored … I commend President Patrice Talon’s leadership and the bravery of the Armed Forces for thwarting the attempted military coup,” he said, adding gratitude for “collective efforts … in defence of democracy and constitutional order.”
With Senate approval granted, the consent letter will be forwarded to the president, paving the way for deployment. The move underscores Nigeria’s commitment to regional security and collective defence under ECOWAS.
