Senate okays Tinubu’s request to deploy troops in Benin Republic

The Nigerian Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin, following a failed coup attempt against President Patrice Talon.

The approval came after the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the letter from President Tinubu, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved that the letter be discussed urgently.

In the letter titled, “Deployment of Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin for peace mission,” President Tinubu cited Section 5(5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and consultation with the National Defence Council.

He explained that the deployment was in response to an urgent request from Benin’s government for air support to quell the attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and destabilization of democratic institutions.

“The Government of the Republic of Benin is currently faced with an attempted unconstitutional seizure of power and disruption and destabilisation of democratic institutions. “The situation requires urgent external intervention,” Tinubu wrote.

He stressed the close ties of brotherhood and friendship between Nigeria and Benin, as well as the principles of collective security under ECOWAS, urging the Senate to approve the request without delay.

The coup attempt was carried out by a group calling itself the “Military Committee for Refoundation,” led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, who briefly seized the state television station in Cotonou on Sunday.

The attempted coup was thwarted after intervention by Nigerian troops and fighter jets deployed by President Tinubu.

The Senate’s approval clears the way for Nigerian forces to support peacekeeping efforts and restore stability in the neighbouring country.