By Our Reporter
The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to send troops to the Republic of Benin in a bid to help restore peace and stability after an attempted coup rocked the neighboring country over the weekend.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during Tuesday’s plenary session, after lawmakers reviewed the request in the Committee of the Whole in accordance with Section 5, Part II of the Constitution.
The decision received unanimous support from senators, granting full legislative backing for Nigeria’s involvement in the regional security mission.
Akpabio described the move as necessary, emphasizing that unrest in any West African nation poses a broader threat to the region.
“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said, highlighting Nigeria’s obligation to support fellow ECOWAS member states.
President Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate seeking permission to deploy Nigerian forces, saying Nigeria holds a historic responsibility to assist Benin under existing ECOWAS security frameworks. He warned that the situation required urgent action to prevent further escalation.
The attempted coup unfolded on Sunday when a group of soldiers identifying themselves as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” appeared on national television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon. However, loyalist forces quickly regained control, quelling the uprising.
Following the failed coup, ECOWAS declared that it would deploy its standby force to Benin. According to the bloc, the mission will comprise troops from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
ECOWAS stated that the force would support Benin’s government
Leave a Reply