The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to the Republic of Benin following last weekend’s attempted coup in the country.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers unanimously endorsed the request during a Committee of the Whole session, in line with Section 5 of the Constitution.
Akpabio described the move as necessary, stressing that instability in any neighbouring nation poses security risks for the entire region.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said, reiterating Nigeria’s responsibility to support its ECOWAS partners.
The Senate’s decision will be formally communicated to President Tinubu.
President Tinubu, in his letter to the Senate, explained that the deployment was in line with ECOWAS security frameworks, noting that the situation in Benin requires “urgent external intervention” to prevent further destabilisation.
The attempted coup took place on Sunday when a group of soldiers, identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR),” appeared on national television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon.
The attempt was quickly thwarted, with loyal forces regaining control.
Sources close to President Talon assured that the situation is now under control, saying:
“The city and the country are completely secure… The clean-up is progressing well.”
Following the incident, ECOWAS announced the immediate deployment of a standby force made up of troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire.
The force is expected to support Benin’s government and military in preserving constitutional order and protecting the country’s territorial integrity.