The Senate on Tuesday gave an expeditious passage of President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops and air assets to the Republic of Benin following a sudden coup attempt that threatened the country’s democratic stability.
The approval came after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the President’s letter during plenary, in which Tinubu sought consent pursuant to Section 5(5), Part 2 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The crisis in Benin Republic began on Sunday when a faction of soldiers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon.
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The mutineers stormed the state broadcaster, announced the dissolution of the government, and claimed to have suspended the constitution.
Their assertion of control followed an unsuccessful assault on the president’s heavily guarded residence in Cotonou.
In a bid to project authority, the soldiers briefly took over national television, plunging the country into uncertainty.
Borders were shut, political parties suspended, and tensions escalated as conflicting reports emerged about who held control.
By late Sunday evening, Interior Minister Alassane Seidou announced that loyalist forces had regained key locations in Cotonou.
Authorities confirmed the arrest of 14 mutineers, while others fled.
Two senior officers; the Chief of Army Staff, Abou Issa, and the Army Chief, Faizou Gomina were taken hostage during the uprising but were freed on Monday after swift counter-operations supported by Nigerian forces.
As the situation unfolded, Benin Republic formally requested “exceptional and immediate air support” from Nigeria.
Tinubu responded by consulting the National Defence Council before seeking the Senate’s constitutionally required approval for military deployment.
In his letter to the Senate, the President warned that Benin faced an “attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and the disruption and destabilisation of democratic institutions,” stressing the need for urgent external intervention.
“The distinguished Senate may wish to note that the Government of the Republic of Benin requires exceptional and immediate air support,” the letter read.
“Considering the close ties of brotherhood and friendship between Nigeria and Benin, as well as the principles of collective security upheld within ECOWAS, it is our duty to provide the support as requested.”
Tinubu urged lawmakers to act swiftly, saying: “While it is my hope that the Senate will consider and approve this request expeditiously, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration and personal regards.”
After reading the communication, Akpabio committed it to the Committee of the Whole for immediate deliberation.
Lawmakers unanimously endorsed the request, emphasising Nigeria’s responsibility as a regional stabilising force.
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Akpabio noted that failure to intervene could have significant consequences for Nigeria, including mass refugee inflows and security threats along the shared border.
He said, “In the deployment of the Air Force and troops to Benin Republic to ensure a peace mission and restore order, we are also saving Nigerians from thousands of refugees and preventing criminality and instability along our border.”
He added, “Let me thank the President for complying with the constitutional requirement by seeking Senate consent.
“We believe he has taken the right direction. Injury to one is injury to all, and the impact on Nigeria would have been terrible if this coup succeeded.”
