President Bola Tinubu has asked Nigeria’s Senate to approve the deployment of troops to the Republic of Benin following a failed coup attempt that briefly shook the neighboring country’s political stability.
The request, submitted in a formal letter and read aloud during Tuesday’s plenary session, comes after an apparent mutiny in Benin in which rogue soldiers seized control of a television station in the commercial hub of Cotonou before being overpowered by government forces.
The appeal signals Nigeria’s readiness to support Benin at a tense moment for the region and reinforces Abuja’s role as a key security partner in West Africa. Nigerian officials say the proposed deployment is part of a peace mission requested directly by Benin’s government to help safeguard democratic institutions.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the letter during proceedings broadcast live on National Assembly TV, outlining the constitutional basis for the president’s request.
“Pursuant to the Constitution and following consultations with the National Defence Council, I seek the consent of the Senate for the deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin,” Tinubu wrote. He said Benin had asked for “exceptional and immediate” military assistance, including air support, to respond to what it described as an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power.
In the letter, Tinubu pointed to longstanding ties between both countries and the principle of collective security within the Economic Community of West African States. He told lawmakers that the situation in Benin required urgent external support to prevent wider destabilization.
“It is our duty to provide the support as requested by the Government of the Republic of Benin,” the president said, while urging the Senate to consider the request quickly.
Benin’s government has not publicly detailed the extent of the support sought, but officials earlier confirmed that loyal forces regained control in Cotonou within hours of the incident.
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The development comes amid heightened political tensions across parts of West Africa, where several countries have faced coups or attempted takeovers in recent years. Nigeria has repeatedly emphasized diplomatic engagement and regional cooperation as preferred tools for addressing security crises.
Lawmakers are expected to debate the request in the coming days, after which a formal vote would clear the way for any deployment.