Nigeria sends troops to Benin as senate gives swift approval

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following last weekend’s botched coup attempt. Lawmakers gave their unanimous backing during Tuesday’s plenary after considering the president’s letter in the Committee of the Whole, as required under Section 5 of the Constitution.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the approval as a necessary step to help stabilise the region, warning that unrest in any neighbouring country poses a direct threat to West Africa. He told colleagues that Nigeria has a duty to support its ECOWAS partners, adding: “An injury to one is an injury to all.”

The Senate’s resolution will be immediately transmitted to President Tinubu to allow the deployment to proceed.

Tinubu had asked the Senate to authorise troop deployment, saying Nigeria has a historical obligation to assist Benin under ECOWAS security arrangements. He warned that the crisis requires urgent intervention to prevent a deeper breakdown of order.

The attempted coup unfolded on Sunday when a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on national television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon. The declaration was short-lived as loyalist forces moved quickly to restore control.

Sources close to President Talon said order has largely been restored in Cotonou, describing the situation as “completely secure” and the ongoing mop-up as a matter of time.

ECOWAS has also announced the deployment of elements of its standby force to Benin. Troops will come from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, and will operate in support of Benin’s government and its armed forces to maintain constitutional order and protect the country’s territorial integrity.