Nigeria Says It Deployed Troops to Benin to ‘Dislodge Coup Plotters’ Cotonou, Benin — December 8, 2025 Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the deployment of fighter jets and ground troops to neighboring Benin in an effort to thwart a coup attempt by a group of Beninese soldiers. This intervention followed requests for assistance from Benin’s President Patrice Talon, who had called for “immediate Nigerian air support” to counter the threat. Official statements indicate that Nigerian fighter jets were first sent into Benin to secure the airspace and disrupt the coup plotters’ operations.
Ground troops were subsequently deployed at the request of the Beninese government, which sought their help in protecting constitutional institutions and containing armed groups.
According to local reports, President Tinubu has praised the Nigerian military for their role in stabilizing a neighboring country. President Talon also appeared on national television, confirming that his security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt, which had targeted the National TV and a military camp.
The unrest in Benin is the latest in a series of threats to democratic governance in the region.
In recent years, militaries have seized power in neighboring countries, including Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea — Bissau.
However, the attempted coup in Benin was an unexpected development, as the last successful coup in the country occurred in 1972.
As of Sunday afternoon, 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt, including active-duty soldiers and an ex-military personnel. It remains unclear whether Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, the coup leader, has been apprehended.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have both condemned the coup attempt and announced the deployment of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Ghana to support the Beninese government.
The coup attempt comes as Benin prepares for a presidential election in April, which is expected to mark the end of President Talon’s tenure.
The country recently adopted a new constitution, extending the presidential mandate from five to seven years, a move critics have described as a power grab by the governing coalition. Further details are expected as the situation in Benin continues to develop.
Source: Nigeria says it deployed troops to Benin to ‘dislodge coup plotters’— Aljazeera.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
