BREAKING: President Tinubu commends the Nigerian military for protecting democracy in Benin Republic, says Benin made three requests to NigeriaBREAKING: President Tinubu commends the Nigerian military for protecting democracy in Benin Republic, says Benin made three requests to Nigeria

The first request came through the Benin Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a Note Verbal, requesting immediate Nigerian air support “in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population.”

Acting on the request, President Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the National TV and a military camp where they had regrouped.

In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian Air Force assets within Beninoise airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination, which was also granted.

The Benin government finally requested Nigerian ground forces, “strictly for missions approved by the Beninese Command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed Groups, which has also been fulfilled by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin.