Coup: Senate Approves Tinubu’s Request To Deploy Nigerian Troops To Benin Republic

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s request to send Nigerian troops to the Republic of Benin to help stabilise the country after an attempted coup over the weekend.

KanyiDaily recalls that the attempted takeover happened on Sunday when a group of soldiers claimed they had removed President Patrice Talon from power.

Tinubu had earlier sent a letter to the Senate requesting permission to deploy troops, explaining that Nigeria has a long-standing duty, under ECOWAS security arrangements, to support Benin during crises.

He noted that the situation required swift intervention to stop the country from sliding further into chaos.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the approval during Tuesday’s plenary after lawmakers reviewed the request in the Committee of the Whole, in line with the Nigerian Constitution.

The senators voted unanimously in favour of the deployment, giving the president full legislative support for the mission.

Akpabio said the decision was necessary, warning that trouble in a neighbouring country can easily affect the entire region.

“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he said, stressing that Nigeria is obligated to stand by its ECOWAS partner in times of instability.

The Senate’s approval will now be forwarded to President Tinubu.

KanyiDaily recalls that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had condemned the attempted military coup in the Republic of Benin.