In the Republic of Benin, an attempted military coup was thwarted by the government, after soldiers appeared on national television claiming to have seized power.
But barely 12 hours later, Benin President Patrice Talon announced that the coup attempt was foiled, stating that the country’s armed forces and national guard remained loyal to the republic.
Meanwhile, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the coup attempt.
In the same vein, the coup leader Pascal Tigri reappeared in a video which went viral, stating that they undertook the mission to “free” Benin from the dictatorship of President Talon, before telling France to stay out of their internal affairs.
While ECOWAS called the coup an unconstitutional move, Nigeria sent air force fighter jets and ground troops to take over Benin’s airspace and help dislodge the coup plotters.
As a result, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended Nigeria’s military for responding “swiftly” to the request by the Government of Benin to save its democracy from coup plotters. Online, it has prompted a wave of reactions, with some questioning why Nigeria is defending democracy in a foreign country while democracy at home is in disarray.
In another development, French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to increase French support for Nigeria in tackling terrorism and its array of security challenges.
Meanwhile, the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu hosted a U.S. congressional delegation in Abuja which included Representative Mario Díaz-Balart, as well as Representative Riley Moore who were sent along with others on a fact finding mission.
In the same vein, Representative Moore posted a picture of himself with a Benue Bishop with the caption that he came to Nigeria “in the name of the Lord and on behalf of an American people.”
In Imo State, the police command uncovered an illegal mortuary being used for storing mutilated bodies linked to an organ harvesting ring, with the suspect still on the run.
In another instance, there are growing calls for the closure of Imo State Police Command’s anti-kidnapping unit, known as Tiger Base after consistent allegations of torture, extortion, and extrajudicial killings.
In Edo State, Governor Monday Okpebholo stated that kidnappers are going after innocent residents and using fear tactics in a bid to blackmail President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and discourage him from running for re-election in 2027.
In our Photo of the Day, we highlight the Chief of Air Staff Sunday Aneke, who visited the Nigerian Air Force alpha jet pilots who safely ejected from a military aircraft that crashed at the Kainji Air Force Base.
In our Milestone report, we celebrate Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who made history when she was installed as Yeye Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua by the Ooni of Ife.
In our Good News Report, FIFA awarded U.S. President Donald Trump the newly created FIFA Peace Prize, a medal created to reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.
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