Tinubu gets Senate’s nod to deploy troops to coup troubled Benin

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate had approved the request of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deploy troops to the coup troubled neighbouring Benin Republic to maintain peace and orderliness.

The President’s request followed attempted coup by some disloyal soldiers last Sunday and though, the coup has failed, mutineers were still troubling the West African nation.

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Having reviewed a letter of request by President Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio considered it in accordance with Section 5, Part II of the Constitution and granted approval during the Committee of the whole.

In line with the relevant section, Senators voted overwhelmingly to authorize President Tinubu to deploy troops for the regional security mission.

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Akpabio commended President Tinubu for his steadfastness in maintaining regional security and Senators too for their understanding, stressing that security challenges in one country could snowball into another.

“An injury to one is an injury to all,” he stated.

He added that Nigeria has an obligation to stand with its partners under the Economic Community of West African States framework.

The Senate is expected to immediately forward its formal approval to Tinubu.

Tinubu, in his letter to the upper chamber, had requested permission for the deployment, noting that Nigeria bears a historic responsibility to assist Benin under existing ECOWAS security arrangements. He warned that the situation requires “urgent external intervention” to prevent further deterioration.

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