NAF fighter jet
Nigeria has launched a series of coordinated precision airstrikes targeting fleeing members of the recently foiled coup attempt in the Benin Republic, according to details obtained by security analyst Zagazola Makama.
Makama, citing high-level security sources, reported that the air operation focused on elements of the coup faction attempting to escape Cotonou in armoured vehicles after loyalist forces moved quickly to crush the uprising.
Nigerian fighter jets were said to have carried out several “meticulously planned” strikes over a 30-minute window inside Benin’s airspace.
According to military sources, the objective was clear: stop the fleeing attackers, disrupt any plan to regroup, and reinforce efforts to restore constitutional order in coordination with Benin’s authorities and regional partners.
Officials stressed that the mission was conducted with the full approval of the Beninese government, noting that international operational protocols were strictly observed to minimise collateral harm while maintaining maximum effectiveness.
The intervention followed the failed coup led by Lt. Pascal Tigri, who reportedly attempted to dissolve state institutions and seize control of Benin’s military command. Once the attempted takeover collapsed, several members of the group fled south, prompting Nigeria’s rapid aerial response.
A senior Nigerian military officer reaffirmed the country’s position, saying:
“The Nigerian Air Force remains committed to supporting regional stability and preventing any threat that could spill across borders.”
Makama noted that the operation ranks among Nigeria’s most decisive cross-border interventions in recent years, underscoring Abuja’s readiness to act swiftly against any threat capable of destabilising West Africa.
Authorities in Nigeria and Benin are currently reviewing the outcome of the strikes and coordinating follow-up actions aimed at tracking down remaining coup elements still on the run.
