OSAS EMMANUEL
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigerian Senate has given President Bola Tinubu the green light to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin, endorsing a regional security move aimed at stabilising the neighbouring country after last weekend’s attempted coup.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during Tuesday’s plenary, following deliberations on the President’s request in the Committee of the Whole, in accordance with Section 5, Part II of the Constitution. Lawmakers voted unanimously in favour of the deployment, signalling strong political support for Nigeria’s role in regional security.
Akpabio said the decision reflects the shared responsibility of countries within the sub-region, stressing that instability in any ECOWAS member state reverberates across West Africa.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he declared, adding that Nigeria must stand firm in backing its partners during moments of crisis.
The Senate’s consent letter, he confirmed, will be transmitted to President Tinubu without delay.
Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate seeking approval for the operation, noting that Nigeria bears a “historical responsibility” to assist Benin under ECOWAS security arrangements.
He emphasised that the situation required “urgent external intervention” to prevent further deterioration and restore order.
Foiled military coup in Benin Republic
The political tension in Benin escalated on Sunday when a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR) announced via national television that President Patrice Talon had been removed from office.
The mutiny was short-lived as loyalist forces quickly moved in, restoring control and dispersing the coup plotters.
Sources close to Talon reassured the public that calm had returned, saying, “The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure… It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The clean-up is progressing well.”
In response to the coup attempt, ECOWAS activated its standby force.
The regional bloc announced:
“The Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect.”
Troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana will form the intervention force, tasked with supporting Benin’s government and military to safeguard constitutional order and protect the country’s territorial integrity.
With Nigeria now formally committing troops, the region takes another coordinated step to prevent democratic backsliding and reinforce stability in West Africa.
