Nigeria’s military intervened in neighbouring Benin on Sunday after soldiers there announced a coup attempt on state television, the Nigerian presidency confirmed.
President Bola Tinubu authorised Nigerian Air Force jets to enter Beninese airspace to help dislodge coup plotters from the national broadcaster and a military camp where they had regrouped.
Benin’s government said it had thwarted the attempted overthrow, describing the situation as urgent and demanding swift regional cooperation.
Nigeria said Benin’s foreign ministry requested immediate aerial assistance to protect constitutional order, national institutions and the safety of civilians.
Benin also sought the deployment of Nigerian fighter jets for surveillance and rapid-response operations under Beninese coordination to prevent further instability.
Its government further requested Nigerian ground forces for limited missions approved by Benin’s military command, focused on defending constitutional institutions and containing armed groups.
Tinubu said the intervention adhered to ECOWAS protocols on democracy and good governance, stressing that Nigerian forces had moved to stabilise a threatened neighbour.
The regional bloc earlier announced that troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Ghana would be deployed to Benin to help contain the coup attempt and restore calm.