The Senate has authorized President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin to assist in restoring peace and stability following last weekend’s attempted coup.
The endorsement was revealed on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during the plenary session, after examining the president’s letter in the Committee of the Whole, as stipulated by Section 5, Part II of the Constitution.
Lawmakers unanimously approved the deployment, thereby providing parliamentary authorization for the regional security operation.
Akpabio praised the decision as prompt, emphasizing that disturbances in any adjacent nation could swiftly unsettle the larger region.
“An injury to one affects us all,” he remarked.
He stated that Nigeria is required to support its partners within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) framework.
The Senate is anticipated to promptly send its official endorsement to Tinubu.
In his letter to the Senate, Tinubu sought approval for the deployment, highlighting that Nigeria has a historical duty to support Benin according to current ECOWAS security agreements. He cautioned that the circumstances necessitate “immediate outside intervention” to avert further decline.
The coup attempt in Benin took place on Sunday when a group of soldiers, calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” appeared on national television to declare that they had resolved that “Mr. Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic.”
The situation was quickly stabilized, as Benin’s committed military troops fought back and regained authority.
“The regular army is regaining control. The city (Cotonou) and the country are completely secure. It’s just a matter of time before everything returns to normal. The cleanup is progressing well,” sources close to Talon said.
After the unsuccessful takeover, ECOWAS revealed intentions to mobilize its standby troops.
“After consultation among members of the Mediation and Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has ordered the deployment of elements of the ECOWAS Standby Force to the Republic of Benin with immediate effect,” the bloc stated.
“The Regional Force shall be made up of troops from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Republic of Ghana.
“The Force shall support the Government and the Republican Army of Benin to preserve constitutional order and the territorial integrity of the Republic of Benin.”
