Benin Republic coup plotters on the run

The Benin Republic coup plotters, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, are on the run, although 14 of his comrades have been arrested on Sunday.

A post on X, formerly known as Twitter, by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this on Sunday.

The post noted that the Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, also claimed the coup has been aborted.

Seidou, who spoke on national TV, announced that the coup has been thwarted.

According to him, “Early on Sunday morning, 7 December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilising the state and its institutions.

“Faced with this situation, the Beninese armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the republic. Their response allowed them to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt.

“The government therefore urges the population to go about their activities as normal.”

Indeed, a government spokesperson, Wilfried Leandre Houngbedji, confirmed that 14 people had been arrested in connection with the coup attempt as of Sunday afternoon, without providing details.

Events leading to the failed coup saw President Talon requesting neighbouring Nigeria to send air force fighter jets to take over Benin’s airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the state television network and a military camp.

A statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed that Nigeria sent not only Air Force, but ground troops.

A combined effort of Nigeria’s military and Benin Republic armed forces thwarted the coup as President Talon confirmed on Sunday.

Talon’s announcement on Sunday evening came about 12 hours after gunfire first rang out in several neighbourhoods of Cotonou, the country’s biggest city and commercial hub, and soldiers went on state television to say they had removed Talon from power.

Forces loyal to Talon “stood firm, recaptured our positions, and cleared the last pockets of resistance held by the mutineers,” Talon said in his own televised statement.

“This commitment and mobilization enabled us to defeat these adventurers and to prevent the worst for our country… This treachery will not go unpunished.”

Talon said his thoughts were with victims of the coup attempt as well as with a number of people held by the fleeing mutineers, without giving details.

Reuters was unable to verify if there were casualties or hostages.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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