Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research, Dr Charles Omole, says Nigeria’s swift military intervention to help foil the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin was lawful under both Nigerian and ECOWAS frameworks, insisting the regional bloc must “lead from the front” in defending democracy.
Omole, speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Monday, said: “You can’t have coups where people are largely satisfied with the performance of their government. Part of the challenge we have in ECOWAS is that ECOWAS appears to be silent when there is misgovernance by democratic governments and only seems to find its voice when there is a coup.”
He argued that President Bola Tinubu acted within the law when he authorised military support to Benin Republic, explaining:
“Section 5 of our constitution says the president cannot declare war except with the approval of the National Assembly, but there is an exception for defensive security response if Nigeria is attacked.
However, the ECOWAS protocol set up in 1981, under Section 4, mimics NATO’s Article 5—an attack on one is an attack on all. This was expanded in 1999 to include attack on democratic institutions, which means a coup is considered an attack that invokes Section 4.
So from that perspective, an attack on Benin Republic is technically, legally an attack on Nigeria. That solidifies the legality of the president’s intervention.”
Omole stressed that Nigeria’s leadership is central to the strength of ECOWAS:
“Eighty percent of ECOWAS is Nigeria in terms of capacity. If Nigeria is a sick patient, the others don’t have the voice to speak effectively. But if Nigeria is the exemplar, then ECOWAS can talk to everybody else.”
Turning to the release of 100 abducted schoolchildren in Niger State, the security expert warned that kidnapping had become a commercial enterprise targeting government resources:
“It is sad that we are talking about kidnapping again. Kidnapping is an economic venture in Nigeria. It started with kidnapping foreigners in the Niger Delta, then rich people, and when rich people fortified themselves, they moved to government.
“When they attack poor schools, they know the parents cannot pay ransom. They are targeting government. The more embarrassed the government is, the more the government will respond.
“Continuing to pay and negotiate only enables them. There is a time now to take decisive action. Yes, sadly, there may be collateral damage, but we need to extinguish these people once and for all.”
Omole maintained that without firm, proactive governance across the region, West Africa will remain vulnerable to coups and criminality.
Boluwatife Enome
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