How Nigerian Air Force Aided in Crushing Benin Republic Coup Attempt

The Nigerian Air Force has been credited with a decisive role in stopping an attempted military takeover of President Patrice Talon’s democratic government in the Benin Republic.

Tension spiked early Sunday when a faction of soldiers stormed Benin’s state television station, announcing the dissolution of the government after failing to breach President Talon’s residence. The mutineers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation (CMR) declared Talon removed from office and announced a suspension of the constitution, closure of borders, and the grounding of Benin’s airspace. They named Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal as head of a proposed military transition council.

At the time, President Talon’s whereabouts remained unclear, while the French Embassy warned its citizens to remain indoors after gunfire erupted near Camp Guezo, close to the president’s official residence.

But the attempted coup unraveled quickly.

The government confirmed the plot had been foiled, amid reports yet to be independently verified, that Nigerian fighter jets carried out airstrikes on the Togbin military base in Cotonou. While these claims remain unconfirmed, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame acknowledged that the Nigerian Air Force conducted operations in Benin “in line with ECOWAS protocols and the ECOWAS Standby Force mandate.”

As confusion swirled, ECOWAS issued a firm statement condemning the attempted coup and warning that it was prepared to deploy its regional standby force to defend Benin’s constitution and territorial integrity.

“ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin,” the body declared. “ECOWAS will support the government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force.”

The quick regional response underscored West Africa’s increasing zero-tolerance stance toward military takeovers in the region.