Nigeria has carried out a series of precision airstrikes against members of the failed military coup in the Benin Republic, neutralising several suspected plotters and destroying their escape vehicles.

The operation was executed on Sunday after the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), acting under a joint security arrangement with authorities in Cotonou, tracked the movement of key coup actors attempting to flee in armoured convoys. Intelligence reports had indicated that the fleeing soldiers were heading south toward coastal exit routes.

A senior security official confirmed the mission, saying it was “carefully coordinated with Benin’s leadership” to prevent the coup backers from regrouping and to support efforts to stabilize the country after the attempted takeover.

According to multiple security sources, the airstrikes—lasting approximately 30 minutes—targeted fast-moving convoys believed to be carrying loyalists of the coup leader, Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri. The fleeing soldiers reportedly departed the country’s interior in an effort to evade capture.

Residents in parts of Cotonou reported hearing loud explosions and seeing thick smoke rising from the outskirts, sparking speculation that foreign aircraft were involved in the crackdown on the mutineers.

The development was later confirmed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), which reported that Nigerian jets conducted the strikes in coordination with Beninese authorities working to contain the mutiny.

Speaking on the operation, Nigerian Air Force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the mission was carried out “in line with ECOWAS protocols and the mandate of the ECOWAS Standby Force.”

Sources told POLITICS NIGERIA that the strikes successfully disabled multiple armoured vehicles and sealed off escape corridors identified by the fleeing troops. Although no official casualty figures have been released, security insiders disclosed that “a number of hostile elements” were eliminated.

“All sorties were flown with the consent of Beninese authorities and adhered strictly to international rules of engagement,” another official said, noting that planners were careful to avoid civilian areas and minimise collateral damage.

The air operation followed the unsuccessful attempt by Lt. Col. Tigri and his faction—known as the Military Committee for Refoundation—to dissolve state institutions and seize power. Loyalist forces in Benin swiftly regained control, forcing several of the coup backers to attempt a southern retreat before they were intercepted.

The Federal Government has reportedly secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

Bandits had, on November 21, 2025, invaded the remote Papiri community around 2:00 a.m., arriving on motorbikes and attacking the school dormitories for over three hours. By the time they retreated, 315 people, 303 students and 12 teachers, had been taken away.

In the first 24 hours after the abduction, 50 pupils managed to escape and were reunited with their families. However, 265 individuals, 253 children and all 12 teacher, remained in captivity.

Security agents, alongside local hunters, were immediately deployed to comb surrounding forests in search of the missing victims.

The Federal Government intensified the operation by imposing a 24-hour security cordon and launching aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.

President Bola Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to address the crisis.

In the wake of the attack, the government ordered the indefinite closure of all schools in Niger State, along with several federal institutions in high-risk areas, pending further security assessments.

As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding the release of the 100 schoolchildren, including whether negotiations were involved, remain unclear.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, last Monday, reassured parents and authorities of school, that the abducted pupils are doing fine and will return soon.

A heartbreaking story has emerged from Benue State as an elderly man broke down in tears after surviving an attack by Fulani herdsmen.

In a viral video shared by @ChuksericE on X, the old man, now displaced and deeply traumatized, said the attackers not only killed his loved ones but also destroyed the farmland and crops his family depended on for survival, leaving them with nothing.

In his words, he said:

“Fulani herdsmen killed my people and destroyed the crops and farmland that my family depended on for food. Now we have nothing left to eat. I live in a family house in the village which has now become a camp. There are more than 200 people staying there, all from the same family.”

According to him, he and his extended family, more than 200 people, had been living in an overcrowded family camp house in the village before the brutal attack.

Visibly shaken, the elderly man explained that daily survival has become a struggle, as they have no food, no home, and no clear idea of how to rebuild their lives after losing both their loved ones and their livelihood.

The video of his painful account has sparked emotional reactions nationwide. A commentator wrote, “This is too heartbreaking. How can one family face this much pain?” Another said, “Over 200 people displaced? Benue needs urgent intervention.”

The man’s cry for help has drawn widespread sympathy, with many Nigerians calling for immediate relief support and stronger security measures to protect vulnerable communities across Benue and other affected regions.

Watch video below…

https://x.com/ChuksEricE/status/1997625706344570975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1997625706344570975%7Ctwgr%5E80a0d0d13a50e6df26d5857bdefcb0a0bef64cbb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnaijalamp.com%2F2025%2F12%2F07%2Felderly-man-breaks-down-in-tears-as-fulani-herdsmen-kill-his-family-destroy-his-farm-in-benue-video%2F