Human rights activist Deji Adeyanju has praised President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he described as a firm and timely intervention that helped abort the attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin.

In a statement on Monday, Adeyanju said Nigeria’s response reaffirmed its commitment to defending democratic governance within the West African sub-region.

“I commend President Bola Tinubu and the gallant Nigerian Armed Forces for their decisive intervention that halted the attempted coup in the Republic of Benin,” he said.

Nigeria had reportedly deployed fighter aircraft and, working through ECOWAS, issued a clear warning against any effort to upturn Benin’s democratic order.

According to him, the move has drawn support even from opposition elements who insist that another coup in a neighbouring country would pose grave security and political risks for Nigeria, especially after the military takeover in Niger Republic.

Nigeria and Benin share extensive economic, cultural and border ties, with Nigeria serving as Benin’s largest trading partner and home to a substantial Beninese and Yoruba-linked population.

Adeyanju argued that any disruption of civil rule in the neighbouring state could trigger a wider regional crisis.

He said Nigeria’s swift stance “is a signal to coup plotters and their sympathisers that the era of military intervention in governance is over,” adding that the development should serve as a deterrent to anti-democratic forces across the Sahel.

“This is a proud moment for me as a Nigerian who loves democracy and understands the dangers of military rule,” he noted.

Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to demonstrate similar resolve in tackling insecurity within Nigeria, particularly terrorism and banditry.

“The same might displayed in Benin should be applied with greater vigour to crush terrorist groups operating within our borders so that Nigeria can lead by example,” he said.