The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to send troops to the Republic of Benin to help restore stability following last weekend’s attempted military coup.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the endorsement on Tuesday during plenary after lawmakers reviewed the president’s letter in the Committee of the Whole, in line with Section 5, Part II of the Constitution. Lawmakers voted unanimously to authorize the regional security deployment.
Akpabio described the resolution as timely, noting that instability in a neighbouring country could threaten the wider region. “An inj¥ry to one is an inj¥ry to all,” he said, adding that Nigeria has a duty to support its partners under the ECOWAS framework. The Senate is expected to forward its formal approval to Tinubu immediately.
In his request, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s historic responsibility to assist Benin under ECOWAS security arrangements, warning that urgent intervention was needed to prevent further deterioration.
The attempted coup occurred on Sunday when soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” declared on national television that President Patrice Talon had been removed. Benin’s loyal forces quickly regained control. Sources close to Talon said the army was restoring order in Cotonou and across the country.
Following the failed takeover, ECOWAS announced plans to deploy its standby force. The regional deployment will include troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana to support Benin’s government and military in maintaining constitutional order and territorial integrity.
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