By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Nigerian Air Force deployed fighter jets to monitor the unfolding political crisis in neighbouring Benin Republic following an attempted military coup early Sunday morning, BlackBox Nigeria has confirmed.
According to reports, the jets were dispatched from Lagos to conduct surveillance operations over Benin’s airspace as a precautionary measure, shortly after soldiers in Benin appeared on state television to announce the removal of President Patrice Talon’s government.
A senior Nigerian military source, quoted by local media, said the deployment was not offensive but aimed at ensuring that the crisis did not spill over into Nigerian territory or threaten regional stability.
However, by late afternoon, the aircraft were withdrawn after Nigerian authorities assessed that the situation in Benin had stabilised.
“There was no immediate threat to Nigeria’s territorial security, and the government in Benin appears to be regaining control,” a source familiar with the matter told NewsmakersLive.
The move comes as ECOWAS, the regional bloc of which both countries are members, strongly condemned the attempted coup, warning that it may activate its standby force if necessary to protect constitutional order in Benin.
Nigeria, the most populous country in West Africa and a key regional power, has taken a proactive stance against the rising wave of coups in Francophone West Africa, including in Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The Nigerian government has yet to release an official statement on the jet deployment.
