The dust is settling in the Benin Republic, but the manhunt is just beginning.
According to a statement shared by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the purported leader of the swiftly aborted military coup in Cotonou is now on the run following the failure of the planned takeover.
This development follows the brief but tense morning when a small group of soldiers attempted to seize power from President Patrice Talon.
The Aborted Takeover
The coup attempt was initiated by a group identifying itself as the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR). Appearing on state television, the group announced the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Talon, naming Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri as their appointed leader.
- Swift Reprisal: The action was immediately condemned by the Beninese government and its military high command. Within hours, forces loyal to the constitutional government swiftly moved to counter the mutiny, regaining control of key state institutions.
- Government Confirmation: Benin’s Interior Minister, Alassane Seidou, confirmed the attempt was “foiled,” stating that the Armed Forces maintained control and upheld the republican order. Arrests were made among the plotters who were apprehended near the national broadcaster’s headquarters.
The Hunt for the Coup Leader
The news that the alleged head of the military action, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, has evaded capture was shared by President Tinubu’s aide, signaling close intelligence coordination between Nigeria and its neighbour.
Nigeria, under the leadership of President Tinubu (who is also the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government), has taken a firm, non-negotiable stance against coups in the sub-region.
The immediate deployment of Nigerian fighter aircraft to the area, before their subsequent withdrawal, demonstrated this commitment to regional stability.
“The ringleader of the failed coup in Benin Republic is on the run, following the swift, decisive action by the loyalist forces,” Bayo Onanuga reportedly stated, affirming Nigeria’s continued support for President Talon’s administration.
Nigerian security forces are understood to be working in cooperation with their Beninese counterparts, particularly along the porous border regions, to prevent the fugitive leader from crossing into Nigerian territory or escaping to a safe haven.
Benin Returns to Business
Despite the initial confusion and sporadic gunfire reported around Cotonou, the capital has largely returned to normal, though an air of caution remains.
The failure of the coup has cemented the authority of President Talon, who is due to step down next year, after his second term.
The regional focus now shifts entirely to the apprehension of the fugitive coup leader and a full investigation into the motivations behind the mutiny, which the plotters claimed was in response to “deteriorating security” in northern Benin.
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