Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is facing intense criticism after authorizing military intervention in the Republic of Benin to help suppress an attempted coup. The backlash intensified on Sunday after reports confirmed that Nigerian fighter jets and ground forces assisted Beninese authorities in pushing back soldiers who had taken over key national installations.

According to early reports from Parallel Facts, loud explosions and sporadic gunfire erupted at the Tignon Barracks, located about six kilometers from the Cotonou Airport. Investigative researcher Casus Belli revealed that the mutinous soldiers—believed to be behind the coup attempt—had barricaded themselves inside the military facility while attempting to seize broader control of the country.

In response, the Nigerian Air Force launched fighter jet operations, reportedly striking positions occupied by the coup elements near the national television station and a military base. Nigerian ground troops were also deployed as part of a coordinated operation approved by the Beninese Command Authority, raising questions about the extent of Nigeria’s involvement in Benin’s internal conflict.

Tinubu’s decision has triggered widespread condemnation, particularly from international activists and commentators who argue that the Nigerian leader should focus on addressing the terrorism and insecurity plaguing his own country. One of the loudest critics is American political commentator Jackson Hinkle, who described the Benin coup actors as “revolutionaries,” not terrorists. He accused Tinubu of misplacing priorities, stating that Nigeria should “bomb terrorists in its own country, not revolutionaries in Benin.”

This perspective echoes the sentiments of many Nigerians who feel that the administration has not done enough to combat Boko Haram, ISWAP, banditry, and widespread insecurity affecting states across northern and central Nigeria. Critics argue that committing fighter jets and soldiers to a foreign mission—especially during heightened domestic instability—sends the wrong message to Nigerian citizens.

Meanwhile, earlier reports by investigative journalist David Hundeyin added further controversy to the unfolding events. In a post on X, Hundeyin warned that Nigerian Army units stationed at Ojo Barracks in Lagos were allegedly preparing for an unauthorized military incursion into the Benin Republic. He cautioned that such an operation could provoke broader regional instability at a time when West Africa is already grappling with multiple coups, jihadist attacks, and fragile political systems.

The Beninese government, however, maintains that it formally requested Nigerian support after hostile forces seized the national broadcaster and attempted to take control of strategic institutions. Authorities in Cotonou claim that the joint effort helped restore order and prevent the country from falling into the hands of rogue soldiers.

Despite this official justification, the political debate continues to intensify both within Nigeria and across the region. Many fear that Nigeria’s intervention could set a new precedent for cross-border military action in West Africa—potentially escalating tensions at a time when the continent is striving for greater stability.

For now, Tinubu’s administration remains firm in its stance that the action in Benin was necessary to “protect democratic order.” But critics insist that a government burdened by domestic insecurity should prioritize protecting its own citizens before engaging in foreign military campaigns.