Nigeria has deployed fighter aircraft to the Benin Republic following reports of a military coup attempt against President Patrice Talon on Sunday, multiple security sources told Zagazola Makama.
The jets, which departed Lagos earlier in the day, were sighted operating within Beninese airspace as Abuja intensified aerial surveillance of the fast-evolving political situation in the neighbouring country.
According to security officials, the deployment is a precautionary move aimed at assessing potential regional security threats and protecting Nigeria’s national interests.
“The aircraft has already arrived in the Benin Republic. Nigeria is closely monitoring developments and evaluating potential risks,” a senior security source said, stressing that the mission is not offensive but “a strategic response to unfolding events.”
Initial reports indicated that a military faction led by Lt. Pascal Tigri had announced the dissolution of state institutions, the suspension of the November 2025 constitution, and the closure of Benin’s borders after declaring a takeover under the banner of a “Military Committee for Rebuilding.”
However, the situation remained unclear hours later as contradictory accounts emerged.
The African Union (AU), in a statement posted on X, condemned what it described as an “attempted military coup,” urging soldiers to “cease all unlawful actions” and return to their barracks. A source close to President Talon told AFP that the leader was safe and had denounced the plotters.
Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, also said security forces had successfully foiled the mutiny, describing it as an effort by “a small group of soldiers” to destabilize the country.
Nigeria, which shares a long and porous border with Benin, views any instability in Cotonou as a direct security concern. Although Abuja has yet to issue an official statement, military sources said surveillance flights would continue “until the situation becomes clearer.”
The developments have heightened regional anxiety as West Africa grapples with a wave of attempted and successful coups that continue to challenge political stability across the sub-region.
