The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has outlined how Nigeria’s swift military intervention helped to foil a coup attempt in the Benin Republic, describing the action as vital to safeguarding democracy and regional stability in West Africa.
In an opinion piece shared on his X account on Tuesday, Olusegun detailed the events of Sunday, December 7, 2025, when soldiers allegedly moved against the government of President Patrice Talon in Cotonou.
According to him, troops led by Lt. Colonel Pascal Tigri attacked the president’s residence before appearing on national television to announce the suspension of the constitution, with Tigri declaring himself the new leader of Benin Republic.
Olusegun said Nigeria became involved after receiving a Note Verbale from the Beninese Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting urgent support to counter the mutinous soldiers. A second request, he said, sought the deployment of Nigerian air and ground forces to restore order.
“Acting on these urgent legitimate requests, President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate deployment of fighter jets and ground troops into Benin Republic to flush out the coupists,” he stated.
He explained that Nigerian fighter jets secured Benin’s airspace and helped dislodge the coup plotters from strategic locations, including the national television station and a military camp where they had regrouped. At least 14 suspects were arrested, while others fled following the intervention. President Talon later addressed his country, confirming that the attempted takeover had failed.
Olusegun added that Nigeria’s response sent a strong warning to actors considering destabilising governments within the sub-region. He noted that instability in Benin could have spilled over into Nigeria due to shared borders and close economic ties.
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He said a successful coup would have disrupted trade and strained economic relations between both countries, while Nigeria’s decisive action also reassures investors of the country’s capacity to maintain stability at home and support its neighbours.
The adviser argued that the intervention further strengthened Nigeria’s leadership role in West Africa and bolstered its engagement with international partners on security matters. He disclosed that France had already extended a hand of collaboration to Nigeria, signalling what he described as the beginning of a broader Nigeria-led effort to tackle insecurity in the Sahel.
“It may well be the beginning of a broad international effort at turning the tide of insecurity in the region, triggered by an SOS call from a neighbour to which Nigeria responded as a big brother,” he said.