Nigeria: Senate approves Tinubu’s request to deploy troops to Benin

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The Nigerian Senate has unanimously endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s request to send Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin following last weekend’s attempted military takeover. Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision during a plenary session after the Committee of the Whole reviewed the president’s letter, citing Section 5, Part II of the Constitution.

Lawmakers stressed that instability in a neighbouring state could threaten the wider West African region. “An injury to one is an injury to all,” Akpabio said, adding that Nigeria has an obligation to support its ECOWAS partners.

A faction of soldiers calling itself the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on Benin’s national television on Sunday, declaring President Patrice Talon removed from office.

Benin’s regular army quickly regained control, and the situation was described as “completely secure” with a clean‑up underway.

President Tinubu’s letter to the Senate argued that the crisis required “urgent external intervention” under existing ECOWAS security arrangements.

ECOWAS announced the immediate deployment of its standby force to Benin, to be composed of troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. The force will support Benin’s government and army in preserving constitutional order and territorial integrity.

In a separate development, ECOWAS declared a state of emergency across West Africa, citing poor governance and rising insecurity. Commission President Omar Touray, speaking at the 55th session of the Mediation and Security Council in Abuja, warned that upcoming elections in Guinea, Benin, The Gambia and Cape Verde could face serious pressure without preventive measures.