Nigeria has launched airstrikes inside Benin Republic as part of a coordinated ECOWAS counter-coup operation, military and presidency sources confirmed on Sunday.
NAF Confirms Cross-Border Operation
A senior presidency source told AFP that Nigerian jets conducted precision strikes in Benin following an official request from the Beninese government.
Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the mission was carried out “in line with ECOWAS protocols and the ECOWAS Standby Force mandate.”
The exact targets hit during the operation have not been disclosed.
Tinubu Praises Military for Swift Response
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the Nigerian military for acting quickly to support Benin’s 35-year-old democracy after coup plotters attempted a dawn takeover.
Benin earlier announced it had foiled the coup attempt, after soldiers appeared on state TV claiming they had removed President Patrice Talon from office.
Coup Attempt: What Happened in Benin?
A group of soldiers calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) had seized state television, declaring a lieutenant colonel as their leader and announcing Talon’s removal.
They accused the government of:
Worsening security in northern Benin
Neglecting fallen soldiers and their families
Unfair promotions within the military
But a source close to President Talon said he was safe, dismissing the coupists as “a small group who only control the television.”
“The regular army is regaining control… the cleanup is progressing,” the source told AFP.
Tension in Cotonou
By midday, gunfire was reported in parts of Cotonou.
Soldiers blocked access to presidential offices, while many residents continued regular activities despite the confusion.
Interior Minister Alassane Seidou labeled the takeover attempt “a mutiny” aimed at destabilizing state institutions, affirming that the armed forces had regained control.
ECOWAS Condemns Attempted Coup
ECOWAS described the soldiers’ actions as:
“Unconstitutional”
A “subversion of the will of the Beninese people”
The region has witnessed a wave of coups in recent years including in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Benin’s Political Backdrop
Patrice Talon, 67, has led Benin since 2016
His second and final term ends in 2026
His tenure brought economic growth but increased accusations of authoritarianism
The main opposition party has been barred from the upcoming election
More updates to follow…