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BREAKING NEWS: Inside details of Nigeria’s military operation that foiled coup in Benin Republic

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A coup in the Republic of Benin was foiled with the support of the Nigerian armed forces on Sunday.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the intervention came at the request of Benin’s President Patrice Talon, who sought immediate military backing to stop the forceful takeover of power in his country.

President Bola Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force to enter the country and take over its airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from National TV and a military camp where they regrouped, Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said in a statement.

Sources told PREMIUM TIMES that the deployment of Nigeria’s air force fighter jets played a significant deterrent role, forcing the mutineers to retreat from strategic locations, including the national broadcaster and a major military camp where they regrouped.

Similarly, our sources reported that ground forces were mobilised across land borders, drawing personnel from army battalions in Ikorodu, Badagry, and Owode in Ogun State, to prevent the forceful takeover in Cotonou.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the coup plotters attempted to dismantle the French-speaking country’s constitutional institutions on Sunday.

The Nigerian presidency said Benin Republic authorities requested the deployment of Nigerian military assets for surveillance and rapid intervention under Benin-led coordination.

“The government also requested Nigerian ground forces, strictly for missions approved by Benin’s command authority, in support of protecting constitutional institutions and containing armed groups,” the Nigerian presidency said.

Benin’s president, Mr Talon, later confirmed the coup, announcing that loyal forces had regained control.

“I express my condolences to the victims of this senseless adventure and to those still held by fleeing mutineers,” Mr Talon said in a televised address. “We will do everything to recover them safely.”

Sources told this newspaper that the Nigerian air force dropped explosives in some parts of the country on Sunday to scare the coupists, while Nigerian troops remain on standby and will respond immediately if the plotters regroup.

The intervention also received backing from ECOWAS, which ordered the deployment of a regional troop comprising personnel from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.

The West African bloc earlier condemned the attempt as “a subversion of the will of the people of Benin.”

Gunfire first rang out across several neighbourhoods in Cotonou on Sunday, followed by the appearance of heavily armed soldiers on state television.

The group, calling itself the Military Committee for Refoundation and led by Colonel Tigri Pascal, announced the dissolution of national institutions, the suspension of the constitution and the closure of Benin’s land, air and maritime borders.

They cited deteriorating security in northern Benin and alleged neglect of fallen troops as justification for their action.

This would have been the latest in a surge of power seizures in West Africa, where Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Niger have experienced coups since 2020.

Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, confirmed that the Nigerian armed forces fully executed Benin’s request.

“Ours is to comply with the directive of the Commander-in-Chief,” he said. “All requested deployments have been carried out.”

In his remarks after the restoration of the democratic and constitutional order, President Tinubu commended the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender of democracy.

“Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as defenders and protectors of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government. Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They have helped stabilise a neighbouring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999. Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin.”

Although Benin has enjoyed almost five decades without a coup, analysts say mounting insecurity in the north, where insurgent attacks have surged, may have contributed to the unrest.

Mr Talon has been in power since 2016 and is expected to step down next April.

Despite underlying tensions, the coup collapsed within hours, a development credited to regional solidarity and rapid military coordination led by Nigeria.

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Sanusi will lead Sallah Durbar in Kano – Gov’t

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The Kano State Government has announced that the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, will lead this year’s Eid-el-Fitr Durbar, even as it unveiled strict guidelines to prevent a breakdown of law and order during the celebrations.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

The government said the decision, approved by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, followed credible intelligence reports indicating attempts by some individuals to create unrest during the Sallah period.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, the government said it remained committed to preserving Kano’s cultural heritage but would prioritise peace and security.

According to the statement, Hawan Idi (Eid Durbar) will be conducted by Emir Sanusi from the Kofar Mata Eid Ground through designated routes to Gidan Shettima, terminating at Kofar Fatalwa of the emir’s palace.

It added that Hawan Nasarawa would be held in a modified form without horseback displays, while Hawan Daushe, Hawan Fanisau and Hawan Dorayi have been suspended for the time being in the interest of public safety.

The government said all security agencies had been directed to intensify surveillance and ensure strict compliance with the directives before, during and after the festive period.

It urged residents to remain calm, law-abiding and cooperative with security agencies, while cautioning against the spread of unverified information.

The government further assured the public of its commitment to a peaceful and hitch-free Sallah celebration, wishing Muslims in the state a joyous Eid-el-Fitr.

The Durbar, a centuries-old cultural procession, has been thrown into uncertainty following conflicting statements from government officials on whether it will hold this year, given the unresolved legal battle between Sanusi II and Aminu Ado Bayero.

While Governor Yusuf reinstated Sanusi II in 2024, Bayero continues to contest his dethronement in court, leaving the emirship in dispute.

The government recently hinted that the stool controversy would soon be resolved.

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2027: Igboho dismisses Sowore’s comment on ‘transactional politics’

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Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has dismissed comments by human rights activist and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, over what he described as transactional politics and activism.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

PUNCH Online reports that Sowore’s comment followed a viral video in which the activist criticised what he described as “transactional politics” among some regional agitators and influencers, accusing them of aligning with political actors for personal or material benefit.

In the video, Sowore appeared to reference Igboho, suggesting that his recent political positions, including support for President Bola Tinubu’s potential re-election bid, reflected what he termed “amala politics” — a colloquial expression often used to imply opportunistic or interest-driven engagement rather than principled activism.

Igboho, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olayomi Koiki, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, criticised Sowore for allegedly describing his activism as “amala politics” in a recent viral video circulating on social media.

He described the comment as an inconsequential rant that should be ignored by the public.

Igboho argued that his agitation for improved security in the South-West and his support for the second-term bid of President Bola Tinubu in 2027 were constitutional rights aimed at promoting the collective interests of the Yoruba people and the development of Nigeria.

He said, “We strongly reject the characterisation of Igboho’s activism as transactional. Such a myopic position misrepresents the intent and focus of our agitation on effective grassroots security in the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.

“How many protests did Sowore organise to push for my freedom? Sowore’s claim of fighting for the masses contradicts his alleged daily lodging expenses of N450,000 at a popular Lagos hotel.

“I cannot be compelled to endorse political figures such as Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, or even align with Sowore’s political platform. I have the right to make independent political decisions based on the security and collective interests of the Yoruba people.”

He added that Igboho’s advocacy prioritises addressing insecurity across Yorubaland, including killings of farmers, kidnappings along highways and attacks on traditional rulers and royal institutions.

Koiki, however, clarified that these concerns form the basis of Igboho’s movement rather than any ambition for political office or revolutionary leadership.

The statement added, “While Sowore has consistently promoted nationwide revolution as a pathway to leadership, Igboho’s approach is rooted in protecting lives, land and property within Yoruba territory. This agitation is a response to real and ongoing threats faced by communities in the region.

“Latest security incidents in northern Nigeria, including reported explosions in Maiduguri on March 16, 2026, also raise questions about the broader effectiveness of long-term revolutionary advocacy.

“We challenge Sowore to assess the situation in his home state of Ondo State, considering the growing cases of banditry, kidnapping and attacks on rural communities.”

The statement added that the impact of insecurity on vulnerable groups, including farmers, traditional rulers, women and children, had been severe, with several communities reportedly affected.

“These realities reinforce Igboho’s long-standing call since 2020 for localised security measures and stronger regional protection strategies.

“Labelling our agitation and efforts as ‘amala politics’ undermines the urgency of the security crisis and the legitimacy of grassroots agitation,” the statement concluded

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Aisha, Deji, Atiku’s aide, Ibe fume over continuous detention of El-Rufai

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The continuous detention of the former governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has sparked reactions from politicians and socio-political activists.....TAP TO CONTINUE READING

DAILY POST reports that the former governor has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, over an ongoing investigation into alleged financial impropriety when he was governor.

El-Rufai had earlier spent two nights in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before he was picked up by the Department of State Services and then later handed over to the ICPC.

His continuous detention has sparked outrage among citizens who are calling on the commission to immediately charge the former governor to court.

Popular socio-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, said in a post on X that “holding a citizen indefinitely without trial” is impossible.

According to her, “that is not justice. That is not accountability. That begins to look like persecution.

“Every Nigerian, no matter how powerful or unpopular, has the right to a fair hearing. That right is not a favour from the government. It is a constitutional guarantee. If El-Rufai committed crimes, then prosecute him. Nigerians will support that. But what we must never
Support is a system where the government can detain anyone endlessly, simply because it can.

“Today, it may be El-Rufai. Tomorrow, it could be anyone else who speaks or acts in a way that those in power do not like. A democracy must be better than that.

“So the message is simple: charge him in court or release him. Let justice be done openly, lawfully, and transparently. That is the only way a nation that claims to respect the rule of law should act”.

Similarly, an activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, in an interview he posted on X on Wednesday, demanded that the former governor be charged to court immediately, condemning El-Rufai’s incarceration.

“No matter the allegations, I think he should be charged in a court of competent jurisdiction so that he can face the music.

“All these things currently going on don’t look tidy to me”, he said.

On his part, Paul Ibe, a media aide to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, lambasted ICPC for not charging the former governor to court.

In a statement on his X handle, Ibe accused the Commission of taking sides with the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

He wrote, “The matter of the former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai @elrufai has proven beyond measure that the ‘I’ in ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) @icpcnigeria represents Illegal or Irresponsible.

“There’s nothing Independent about the Commission. They’re no different from all the other institutions of state that are standing on Tinubu’s mandate. The ICPC is nauseatingly pliable and has disgracefully made itself available in coercing members of the opposition into the ruling party”!

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