Via: AA

“In Benin, it became evident that Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) played a significant role in suppressing the attempted coup. Beninese President Patrice Talon held an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers, during which the details of the coup attempt that took place on Sunday, December 7, were examined in the presence of senior military commanders. According to a statement released after the Council of Ministers meeting, the coup plotters attacked the home of General Bertin Bada, director of President Talon’s military office, during the night from Saturday to Sunday. General Bada survived the attack, but his wife was killed. After the attack, the commander of the Togbin military base, Colonel Faizou Gomina, who had been sent to the region, was attacked by the coup plotters and taken hostage.

The coup plotters then went to the home of the commander of the land forces, General Abou Issa, and kidnapped him.

At dawn, violent clashes broke out between the coup plotters, who were advancing toward President Talon’s residence, and the presidential guard regiment. Repelled by the presidential guard, the coup plotters seized control of the national television station and announced Talon’s removal, but they were expelled from the building thanks to the intervention of a group of soldiers loyal to Talon.

Nigeria launches airstrikes against coup plotters

At night, Nigeria, at Benin’s request, carried out an air operation against the Togbin military base, where the revolt had begun. The base was then retaken by ECOWAS Reserve Forces, composed of Nigerian soldiers, while a special unit from Côte d’Ivoire supported the operation. General Issa and Colonel Gomina, who had been kidnapped, were also rescued during the operation carried out on Sunday.

Although an investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators and those responsible for the attempted coup, the search continues for the leader of the group of coup plotters who escaped.”

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