The Nigerian Air Force has spoken on the role it played in foiling the coup attempt to forcefully take over the democratically elected government of President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic.
TMY Newspaper reports that on Sunday, a group of soldiers showed up in Benin Republic’s state television announcing the dissolution of the government.
The coup plotters seized the National TV after their failure to gain entrance into President Talon’s residence.
They made a declaration that President Talon who led the country since 2016, had been removed, along with the suspension of all state institutions.
Identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation”, they said, “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.
The soldiers, while announcing a suspension of the constitution and closure of all land borders and the country’s airspace, said Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal will be leading a military transition council.
While the soldiers said this, it was not clear where President Talon was.
As this was on, reporter emerged that he Nigerian Air Force had l deployed fighter jets to restore democratic order in Benin Republic, a border country to Nigeria.
It was learnt that the Nigerian fighter jets launched airstrikes against the Togbin military base in Cotonou, capital of Benin Republic.
However,commenting on the role of the Air Force in the coup attempt, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, clarified that the Nigerian Air Force conducted operations in Benin.
“The Nigerian Air Force has operated in the Republic of Benin in line with ECOWAS protocols and the ECOWAS Standby Force mandate,” AFP quoted him to have said.
In the face of l the confusion that ensued after the announcement of a coup in Benin, The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) did say it could deploy its regional standby force to defend the West African country, if necessary.
It pledged to support the government and people of Benin Republic in all forms necessary, including military deployment in the country to defend its constitution and territorial integrity.
“ECOWAS Commission has received with consternation reports of an attempted military take-over in the Republic of Benin. ECOWAS strongly condemns this unconstitutional move that represents a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”
“ECOWAS will support the government and the people in all forms necessary, including the deployment of the regional standby force, to defend the constitution and the territorial integrity of Benin,” the statement said.
