Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has praised the Armed Forces for their swift response during last Sunday’s attempted coup in the Republic of Benin, noting that their prompt action played a crucial role in thwarting the plot.
Musa delivered the commendation in Abuja on Wednesday during the decoration ceremony for newly promoted senior Army officers.
He stated that the incident serves as a reminder for the military to remain vigilant at all times, prepared to protect Nigeria and its allies from emerging threats.
“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.
“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 said.
Musa emphasized that no arm of the military can operate effectively in isolation, stressing that national security requires seamless joint operations across the Army, Navy, Air Force and other security agencies.
“Jointness and inter-service cooperation are indispensable. These challenges are Nigerian challenges, and we must confront them together with a unity of purpose. Nigerians are watching all of us. They demand results and time is of the essence. We must therefore do things differently and more effectively,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu stated that Nigeria remains central to maintaining peace in West Africa and must continue supporting regional efforts to combat instability.
He told the newly promoted officers that their roles carry significant national implications.
“Permit me to also emphasize the crucial role Nigeria plays in safeguarding the stability of the West African sub-region. We must continue to support regional efforts to deter violent extremism, secure our shared borders and uphold democratic governance. The peace of individual nations directly contributes to the stability of our region,” Shaibu said.
He noted that the Army’s loyalty to Nigeria’s constitutional order must remain firm.
“The Nigerian Army remains the cornerstone of national stability and constitutional order. Our loyalty to the Commander-in-Chief, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Nigerian people must remain unwavering,” he added.
Shaibu urged the officers to exhibit strategic foresight, strengthen operational preparedness and demonstrate effective leadership.
He advised those who were not promoted to remain patient and focused, reminding them that military elevation is merit-based.
The attempted coup in the Republic of Benin began early Sunday when armed mutineers attacked the presidential residence.
Security forces successfully repelled the assault, after which the plotters turned their attention to the national broadcaster.
They briefly stormed the Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin in an attempt to seize control of the state signal, but the effort ultimately failed.
Following the incident, President Bola Tinubu announced that he had approved the deployment of Nigerian troops to help stabilize the neighboring country, describing the intervention as consistent with ECOWAS protocols on democracy and governance.
