Nigeria dispatched fighter jets to Benin Republic on Sunday amid reports of a military coup against President Patrice Talon, but withdrew them later the same day as loyalist forces restored order.
The crisis erupted in the early hours when mutineers in military uniforms assaulted the presidential residence in the Le Guézo neighborhood.
They were repelled and shifted tactics by storming the Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin (ORTB), seizing the national broadcast hub to seize state media control. The plotters, identifying as the Military Committee for Rebuilding, or in some reports, Military Committee for Refoundation, were reportedly led by Lt. Pascal Tigri, who appeared on national television declaring the dissolution of state institutions and assuming full government control.
In their broadcast statement, the coup leaders announced “the suspension of the November 2025 constitution, dissolution of all state institutions, suspension of political party activities, and closure of all land, sea, and air borders until further notice.”
Benin’s Interior Minister Alassane Seidou later confirmed the armed forces had thwarted the attempt, while the presidency assured President Talon was safe and the army was regaining control.
Despite initial reports of holdouts barricaded at ORTB, loyalist National Guard units surrounded the site, with negotiations underway for peaceful surrender; by late Sunday, major installations were secured.
The jets departed from Lagos for aerial surveillance over Beninese airspace, a precautionary measure due to Nigeria’s extensive porous border with Benin and potential spillover risks.
“The aircraft have already arrived in Benin Republic. Nigeria is closely monitoring developments and assessing potential risks,” a senior security source disclosed to Zagazola Makama, emphasizing the mission was “not offensive but a strategic response to unfolding events.” Security officials added that aerial intelligence monitoring would persist “until the situation becomes clearer.”
Updated intelligence confirmed no immediate threat to Nigeria’s security, prompting the jets’ return to base by afternoon as Benin’s situation stabilized. “The situation is under control. The National Guard has everything surrounded,” a senior security official stated anonymously.
This incident underscores West Africa’s ongoing coup wave, with Nigeria, ECOWAS, and others condemning the attempt and backing Talon.
As of Sunday evening, no official Nigerian government statement had been released, though military insiders signaled continued vigilance.
