Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has commended the Armed Forces for their swift intervention during last Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, saying their professionalism was instrumental in preventing the plot from succeeding.
Musa gave the commendation on Wednesday in Abuja during a decoration ceremony for newly promoted senior Army officers. He said the incident underscored the need for constant vigilance and readiness to defend Nigeria and support regional allies.
“Let me at this juncture commend members of the Armed Forces for their swift and professional response to the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin last Sunday,” he said. “Your prompt action helped ensure that the coup failed. This is the standard Nigerians expect, and you must always be ready 24/7 to respond to threats against our nation or our allies.”
The minister stressed that effective national security depends on strong collaboration among the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies, adding that modern threats require unified, joint operations.
“Jointness and inter-service cooperation are indispensable. These challenges are Nigerian challenges, and we must confront them together with unity of purpose. Nigerians are watching, and they demand results,” Musa added.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, reiterated Nigeria’s leading role in maintaining stability in West Africa. He said the country must remain committed to regional efforts aimed at curbing violent extremism, protecting shared borders and defending democratic governance.
“The peace of individual nations directly contributes to the stability of our region,” Shaibu said, adding that the Army’s loyalty to the Constitution and the Commander-in-Chief remains unwavering.
Shaibu urged newly promoted officers to demonstrate strategic foresight and leadership, while advising those not elevated to remain patient since military promotions are strictly merit-based.
Sunday’s attempted coup in Benin began with an assault on the presidential residence by armed mutineers. Security forces repelled the attack, after which the plotters briefly seized the national broadcaster in an effort to control state communications. Their attempt quickly collapsed.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu announced the approval of Nigerian troop deployment to help stabilise the neighbouring country, in line with ECOWAS protocols on democracy and governance.