Benin coup attempt sparks swift military response from Nigeria

The Nigerian military has sent fighter jets to Benin Republic after it was announced that soldiers removed President Patrice Talon from power on Sunday.

Military sources said the jets took off from Lagos and were seen flying in Benin’s airspace.

They added that Nigeria is watching the situation closely because Benin shares a long border with Nigeria.
Officials explained that the mission is mainly for surveillance.

They said Nigeria wants to understand what is happening and protect its borders, not to attack.

The coup was led by Lieutenant Pascal Tigri, who announced that he and other soldiers had taken over leadership of the country.

They dissolved government institutions, stopped political activities, and closed all borders.

Nigeria fears that instability in Benin could affect security within Nigeria, especially around border communities.
Although Nigeria has not released an official statement, military sources said the jets will continue monitoring until the situation becomes clearer.

The African Union also condemned the takeover and called on soldiers to return to the barracks.

However, Benin’s government later claimed that the coup attempt had been stopped, saying only a small group of soldiers tried to cause trouble.

Officials in Benin said the army leadership acted quickly and prevented the plan from succeeding.

They added that the country remains under control of its legitimate government.