Nigeria briefly deployed fighter aircraft to the Benin Republic following Sunday’s attempted coup in the neighbouring West African country, security sources confirmed. The jets, which reportedly departed from Lagos, conducted aerial surveillance over Benin’s airspace as Abuja monitored the unfolding situation.
According to security officials, the deployment was strictly precautionary and aimed at surveillance, not offensive operations. The move followed fears that instability in Benin could spill over into Nigeria due to their long and porous shared border.
Coup Attempt Foiled, Constitutional Order Restored
The coup attempt — reportedly led by Lt. Pascal Tigri — saw a small faction of soldiers appear on state television to announce that they had seized power and suspended state institutions.
However, the Beninese presidency later confirmed that President Patrice Talon was “completely safe” and that loyalist forces had swiftly regained control of key installations.
With the situation stabilising and constitutional order restored, Nigeria ordered its deployed jets to return to base.
Nigeria, ECOWAS Condemn Coup Attempt
The Federal Government of Nigeria issued a statement expressing solidarity with Benin, commending its security forces for foiling the coup, and warning against unconstitutional power seizures in the region.
Regional bloc ECOWAS also strongly condemned the attempted takeover, reiterating its commitment to defending democratic governance and constitutional rule within West Africa.
A Sign of Rising Regional Volatility
Analysts note that the incident highlights emerging political instability in coastal West African states. While most coups in recent years have occurred in Sahelian nations, the attempted takeover in Benin — historically one of the region’s more stable democracies — signals an expanding zone of political risk.
Nigeria’s swift surveillance response underscores Abuja’s concern over potential cross-border impacts, including insecurity, smuggling, refugee flows, and regional destabilisation.
