Benin President meets Nigerian military officers after foiled coup attempt

President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin has received a team of senior Nigerian military officers, led by Brigadier General I.B. Sheriff, the Chief of Staff of the 9 Brigade, in the wake of the recently foiled coup attempt in the country.

The visit, which took place on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace in Porto-Novo, was part of Nigeria’s swift support for its West African neighbour as Beninese security forces moved to contain the mutiny.

According to military sources, the Nigerian Army’s 81st (Amphibious) Division is currently coordinating the support operations, backed by the Nigerian Air Force and Navy.

During the meeting, President Talon received the Nigerian delegation and expressed appreciation for the prompt assistance.

Benin 🇧🇯: In the aftermath of the foiled coup, President Patrice Talon received a delegation from the Nigerian army on Wednesday. The delegation had come to support the Beninese armed forces against the mutineers.

Benin Republic was thrust into turmoil on Sunday, December 7, 2025, after soldiers operating under the Military Committee for Refoundation seized the state-owned television station in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon

The mutineers, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, claimed to have deposed the government, raising urgent security alarms across the sub-region.

Loyalist forces, however, regained control after a brief standoff, aided by the rapid mobilisation of Nigerian troops.

The Presidency described the intervention as proof of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to safeguard constitutional order in West Africa and prevent another democratic collapse within the ECOWAS region.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin as part of a rapid regional peace mission aimed at restoring democratic order after the attempted coup in the neighbouring country.

The Senate granted Tinubu’s request following the consideration of the President’s letter in the Committee of the Whole, after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the communication during plenary.

In the letter, Tinubu—who also chairs ECOWAS—urged lawmakers to endorse the deployment to “help restore governance” in Benin, where a faction of soldiers had attempted to topple President Patrice Talon.