Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), on Wednesday praised the Armed Forces for their swift response during last Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, saying their prompt action was crucial in preventing the plot from succeeding.
Musa made the remarks in Abuja at a ceremony to decorate newly promoted senior Army officers, stressing that the incident underscores the need for the military to remain vigilant and prepared to protect Nigeria and its allies.
“Let me commend members of the Armed Forces for their swift and professional response to the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin last Sunday. Your prompt action helped ensure that the coup failed. This is the standard Nigerians expect, and you must always be ready 24/7 to respond to threats against our nation or our allies,” Musa said.
The minister emphasised the importance of collaboration among all arms of the military, noting that national security requires seamless joint operations across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and other security services. “Jointness and inter-service cooperation are indispensable. These challenges are Nigerian challenges, and we must confront them together with a unity of purpose,” he added.
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Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, also addressed the officers, highlighting Nigeria’s central role in maintaining peace in West Africa. He urged officers to enhance operational preparedness, demonstrate strategic foresight, and provide effective leadership while stressing the Army’s loyalty to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief.
The attempted coup in Benin began early Sunday when armed mutineers attacked the presidential residence. After being repelled, the plotters briefly seized the national broadcaster, Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin, in an attempt to control the state signal, but the effort ultimately failed.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu approved the deployment of Nigerian troops to support the stabilisation of Benin, in line with ECOWAS protocols on democracy and governance.