Benin President Meets Nigerian Military Officers After Failed Coup

• Benin’s President Patrice Talon has welcomed a Nigerian military delegation led by Brigadier General I.B. Sheriff, after loyalist forces regained control following a failed coup.

President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin received a delegation of senior Nigerian military officers on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace in Porto-Novo. The team was led by Brigadier General I.B. Sheriff, Chief of Staff of the Nigerian 9 Brigade, following the recent foiled coup attempt in Benin.

The visit was part of Nigeria’s rapid response to assist its West African neighbour as Beninese security forces moved to contain the mutiny. Military sources confirmed that the Nigerian Army’s 81st (Amphibious) Division coordinated the support operations, with backing from the Nigerian Air Force and Navy.

During the meeting, President Talon expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s prompt assistance in stabilising the situation.

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.

pic.twitter.com/ZK9tL1KBwG— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) December 11, 2025

The crisis erupted on Sunday, December 7, 2025, when soldiers under the Military Committee for Refoundation, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, seized the state-owned television station in Cotonou and announced the removal of President Talon. The mutiny triggered urgent security alarms across the sub-region.

Loyalist forces quickly 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 commitment to safeguarding constitutional order in West Africa and preventing democratic collapse within ECOWAS.

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Earlier, on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate approved Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin as part of a regional peace mission. The deployment aimed to restore governance and stability after the attempted coup, with Tinubu urging lawmakers to support Nigeria’s role in securing the neighbouring country’s democracy.

The swift collaboration between Nigeria and Benin highlights the importance of regional cooperation in maintaining democratic order and peace in West Africa.