President Bola Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Armed Forces for their swift response to requests from the Government of Benin Republic, helping to protect its 35-year-old democracy from a coup attempt on Sunday, December 7, 2025.

Acting on two separate appeals from Benin, President Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force to secure Benin’s airspace and assist in dislodging coup plotters who had seized the National TV and a military camp. The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces for operations coordinated under Beninese command to safeguard constitutional institutions and contain armed groups.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that all requests had been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now deployed in Benin.

The coup, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, involved the seizure of national TV and a claim to have removed President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions. Loyal government forces, aided by Nigeria, regained control, restoring constitutional order.

President Tinubu praised the armed forces for their role, saying, “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.”