The military has seized power from the civilian government in Benin Republic after a successful coup on Sunday.

According to reports, Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal and a group of soldiers announced a coup d’état in Bénin Republic, claiming to have overthrown incumbent President Patrice Talon.

Pascal declared a coup live on national television following reports of an attack on a presidential building.

The army officer thereafter made an announcement, saying that political parties have been suspended and all land, air, and sea borders closed.

“Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri has reportedly attacked the residence of President Talon in Benin, deposing him as leader with images showing him on television,” the report read.

“The military said that they were “dismissing” President Talon from his post with Tigri declaring himself president of a military committee for the country’s restructuring. Images showed him speaking from a television studio where he is reading from a script while other soldiers stand alongside him.

“The army has said that the constitution of November 2025 is suspended and all institutions are dissolved. It has also been declared that activities of political parties are suspended until further notice while the land, maritime, and air borders of Benin are closed.”

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has reinforced its commitment to combating corruption by inaugurating new heads of its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) and unveiling a robust Corruption Prevention Strategy.

Commandant General (CG) of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, charged the newly inaugurated ACTU heads to lead by example, enforce compliance without fear or favour, and resist undue pressure by upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The CG, represented by the Deputy Commandant General (Administration), DCG Adeyinka Fasiu Ayinla, delivered the keynote address at a one-day sensitization workshop, inauguration ceremony, and integrity award event held at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja.

CG Audi stated that the new NSCDC Corruption Prevention Strategy is designed to reduce misconduct, promote due process, and reinforce internal discipline within the Corps. He applauded the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, through the Minister of Interior, Honourable Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, stressed that corruption undermines service delivery, erodes public confidence, distorts development priorities, and weakens the security architecture of a nation.

Dr. Aliyu, represented by Mr. Olusegun Adigun, fsi, assured the NSCDC of the Commission’s continued partnership in championing preventative measures across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), and appreciated the Corps for its strong anti-corruption posture.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NSCDC ACTU, Acting Commandant Audrey Obeh, described the gathering as a “transformative moment” and a testament to the Corps’ dedication to integrity and national development. She commended the Commandant General for his visionary leadership, which has provided an enabling platform for the ACTU to thrive.

“The inauguration of ACTU Heads, integrity awards, and unveiling of the NSCDC corruption prevention strategy all demonstrate how we are intentionally strengthening the pillars of accountability within our system,” Commandant Obeh stated.

Integrity Awards and Goodwill
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of integrity awards to deserving officers and staff.

The CG of NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, received the Integrity Champion and Visionary Award.

The erstwhile Chairman of NSCDC ACTU, Commandant of Corps Remi Ekundayo, bagged the Distinguished ACTU Chairperson Emeritus Award.

Other recipients included ASCII Amanze Abraham Onyedikachi (ACTU Integrity, Ethics and Compliance Award), and CSC Aremu Rafiu (Kwara State Command), CSC Akinwande Adesola Comfort (Oyo State Command), SC Umar Abubakar Ladan (Borno State Command), and SC Yusuf Ibrahim Yusuf (Jigawa State Command), who all received the ACTU Outstanding Performance and Distinguished Service Award.

Goodwill messages were also delivered by representatives from sister agencies, including the Controller General of Immigration, the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

SIGNED:

CSC AFOLABI BABAWALE Anipr,
NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ABUJA.

Egbu community in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State has endured months of crippling electricity outages, even as it hosts a Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) facility supplying and distributing power to the entire South-East.

Residents describe the situation as cruelly ironic: while electricity flows from their town to cities across five states, Egbu itself receives barely two hours of power daily.

The blackout has intensified amid a standoff between the Imo State government and the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) over the proposed Orashi Electricity Distribution Company.

Governor Hope Uzodimma announced at the recent Imo Economic Summit that Orashi Electricity Distribution Company would commence operations in December, promising improved supply and stability across the state.

Before this announcement, the Imo State government accused EEDC of deliberately shutting down power in retaliation for the creation of the new distribution company. Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, insisted the state’s intervention aims solely to improve electricity delivery and protect residents.

EEDC, through its Head of Communications, Emeka Eze, denied the claim, asserting the company has no intention to disrupt supply. It also noted that agents of the state government had previously interfered with its Egbu transmission facility, disrupting operations.

Caught in the crossfire, Egbu remains the worst affected, with prolonged blackouts crippling businesses and daily life. Residents say the 11KV Egbu feeder, which supplies electricity locally, has been in poor condition for years, severely limiting power availability.

Augustine Njoku, a youth leader in Mpana area, said, “That 11KV feeder has been bad for years. EEDC refuses to fix it, and that is why we are in darkness.”

Small businesses are struggling. Uche Onwuka, who runs a football viewing centre at Ishiuzor village, said unreliable power has driven away customers. “I spend everything on petrol; there’s no profit left,” he lamented.

Restaurant owner, Ms Augusta Igwe added, “Running my generator eats up all my profit. How could two hours of electricity supply improve my business. This is unacceptable. I can no longer cope.”

Am Electronics trader, Gibson Amuneke said he was forced to close his shop: “There is no business without electricity.. This is very insensitive. When you go to other parts of the State, there is reasonable power supply but here in Egbu, which hosts the Transmission. station, we hardly get supply”

Residents also complain of high estimated electricity bills despite scant supply, describing it as unfair for a community that hosts a major national power installation.

Efforts to reach EEDC officials about the 11KV feeder and residents’ claims went unanswered. With Orashi Electricity Distribution Company set to begin operations in December and the EEDC-Imo standoff unresolved, Egbu residents remain trapped in darkness, questioning how a community that powers the South-East can be left in such neglect.