In April 2026, the Nigerian government deployed troops to the neighbouring Republic of Benin in a move to support democratic stability and to prevent any breakdown of law and order during the country’s electioneering period and presidential inauguration.

Military authorities said that the deployment of the code-named Operations Atileyin Alaafia 1 and 2 was intended to support regional security, protect democratic processes, and strengthen stability across West Africa. It comes at a time when West Africa continues to confront terrorism, violent extremism, cross-border crime, political instability, and pressures on democratic institutions.

Historical Background

Since its independence in 1960, Nigeria has played a significant role in global peacekeeping and security initiatives, contributing over 200,000 military and police personnel to more than 40 peacekeeping missions.

The nation has financed, mobilised and commanded many interventions to restore stability in the sub- region. Nigeria spent an estimated 8 billion dollars and lost hundreds of soldiers to end the Liberian civil wars of 1990 to 2003. It played a major role in the reinstatement of Sierra Leone’s President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah after a military coup and contributed troops to the ECOWAS mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) following the 2016 constitutional crisis.

Internationally, Nigeria ranks among major contributors to United Nations peacekeeping efforts. Good examples include the nation’s first major international effort in the DR Congo from 1960 to 1964, and the 2000 to 2010 UNAMID and UNAMIS involvement in Sudan/ Darfur.

It is important to note that Nigeria’s active involvement in these missions was formally anchored in its constitutional objectives, which prioritize African unity, decolonization, and regional security.

Operations Atileyin Alaafia

According to a statement released on 25 May,2026 by Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, the deployment was a result of the directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to safeguard and ensure a smooth electoral process and transfer of power to Romuald Wadagni, Benin’s new President on Sunday May 24, 2026.

She noted that though troops were not directly involved with election duties, they were strategically placed to lend a stabilising presence before, during and after the electoral process. Anele added that the sole aim was to deter potential security threats, reinforce public confidence that will support a peaceful democratic transition which aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace and cooperation.

In reaffirming the Army’s commitment to collaborate effectively with regional partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure a secure and peaceful environment across the region, in line with the objectives of ECOWAS, she noted that the successful execution of the mission is proof of the Nigerian Army’s ability for rapid deployment, operational professionalism, and its readiness to support regional peace initiatives.

Word from the Military High Command

Speaking earlier at the Chief of Army Staff Annual Conference in Abuja, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu said the deployment was a reflection of Nigeria’s commitment to enhance collective responses to emerging threats across neighbouring countries.

“Consequently, we have continued to disrupt criminals’ networks, degrade adversary capabilities, and restore relative calm in previously volatile areas. We are also not oblivious of the security situation around our contiguous countries with Nigeria, which necessitates the deployment of troops for Operation Atileyin Alaafia 1 and 2 to restore democracy, ensure security, and the peaceful conduct of elections in the Republic of Benin,” the army chief said.

He emphasised the importance of deepening joint and inter-agency cooperation while integrating technology, innovation, and real- time intelligence into the military operations.

Highlights from other regional press

On May 25, 2026, the Ghanaian newspaper Modern Ghana placed the deployment in a broader perspective, highlighting the events that preceded the mission. The headline read, “Nigeria’s Soldiers Stand Guard as Benin’s New President Is Sworn In A Story Six Months in the Making.”

The story began as follows: “When Romuald Wadagni was sworn in as President of the Republic on Sunday, May 24, 2026, Nigerian soldiers were standing guard. For many observers, that image of Nigerian troops deployed on Beninese soil for a presidential inauguration seemed extraordinary. But for those who followed the turbulent six months that preceded it, it was the logical conclusion of one of West Africa’s most dramatic recent tests of democratic resilience.”

It added further that six months earlier, on December 7, 2025, soldiers of the Benin Armed Forces led by Lt. Col Paschal Tigri announced on television the overthrow of President Patrice Talon and the dissolution of all state institutions. The plotters hinged their grievances on economic mismanagement and alleged corruption, echoing what had been heard from military juntas in neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

The coup lasted only hours as President Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria ordered the Nigerian Air Force to take over the airspace of Benin Republic to help dislodge the coup plotters, since the coup attempt was a destabilising effort to overthrow democratic institutions in a brotherly nation.

The intervention, according to Modern Ghana, “prevented Benin from falling under a junta that might have pivoted toward Russia’s sphere of influence, a pattern already well- established in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger”.

Views across the region

Observers and stakeholders that include security experts, the ECOWAS and Beninese officials, regional scholars, and other citizens have opinions and questions that need answers. Many are wondering what could be achieved through operations such as Atileyin Alaafia, how such operations fit into regional strategies, what security challenges prompted the deployment, and how this compares with previous peacekeeping efforts.

Other questions relate to how host countries are balancing assistance with sovereignty, and the benefits and risks of cross- border military cooperation. Public opinion in Benin Republic regarding Nigeria’s troop deployment before and during the elections is divided, reflecting a mix of relief, strategic necessity, and concerns over sovereignty.

Many civilians and local communities welcomed the intervention as a proper measure to safeguard democracy and stabilise the country. Since the deployment was the direct request of the Beninese government for Nigeria’s troops to foil a coup, many citizens saw the action as a necessary defense of constitutional order that would ensure a peaceful democratic transition.

Regarding security and border stability, citizens living in border towns like Seme, Port Novo and Cotonou recognised the deployment as a pragmatic step. A successful coup could have led to a violent spillover and an influx of armed dissidents. Hence, the joint effort secured key trade routes and protected populations on both sides of the Nigerian – Benin border, helping to combat transnational crimes and terrorism.

Considering sovereignty concerns, host countries most often balance international assistance with national sovereignty by negotiating conditionalities that prevent aid dependency, localising the delivery of well-being to align with domestic cultural and political systems.

On the other side, the deployment has sparked political friction within and outside Benin. Critics and opposition figures have expressed unease, worrying that the temporary security assistance could set a precedent for prolonged foreign influence or dominance, given Nigeria’s intimidating size and historical ties.

Nevertheless, negotiating assistance, host nations seek bilateral support instead of donor-dictated programmes to prevent foreign entities from restricting their strategic autonomy. Many think that this may not be the case in this deployment, considering the chaos and urgency that preceded the action. Ideally, the diplomatic rule is that hosts must maintain their right to self-governance.

Ecowas, Official Military Leadership, Allied Scholars and Others

ECOWAS, in officially endorsing the deployment as legitimate and constitutionally defensible, noted that the operations fit within regional security strategies, serving as strategic foreign peace support and regional stability operations.

The Chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, said that the deployment should serve as a standard for regional solidarity. He also added that the swift intervention to foil the coup during Atileyin Alaafia 1 was a benchmark for protecting regional democratic governance.

Official military leadership and allied scholars see the deployment as a vital step in strengthening regional security, emphasising that it successfully disrupted transnational criminal networks and upheld constitutional order across West Africa. Conversely, many domestic critics and public commentators argue that Nigeria should fix rising internal security problems at home before engaging in foreign peacekeeping missions.

Past and Present Cross-Border Military Operations

Operations Atileyin Alaafia differ from previous peacekeeping efforts as there was a historic shift. Past interventions were driven by combat stabilisation, while Atileyin Alaafia was preventive and localised. It was not aimed at quelling active civil wars and restoring order in highly unstable regions.

Sub-Regional Security Analysis

West Africa’s security landscape is defined by a volatile, multi- layered crisis. Threats from jihadist insurgencies, transnational crime, democratic instability, and geopolitical realignments that threaten states’ sovereignty and human development across the region are on the rise. The Sahel is the epicenter of violence, with armed groups like Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wal-Muslimin (GNIM) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) expanding their territorial influence.

These groups exploit state weaknesses and porous borders to transition from localised insurgencies to hybrid governance models in places like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Today, this hybrid form can be found in Nigeria as Boko Haram, ISWAP and others. For now, the sub- region is a critical transit hub for illicit economies such as piracy, small arms proliferation, human trafficking, and kidnap for ransom.

The issue of geopolitical shift and regional alliances is equally worrisome. The withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger from ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has affected the security architecture, creating counter- security and political bloc that limit cross -border counter – terrorism efforts.

Another is the increasing global geopolitical competition for the sub- region as nations shift alliances between the West, Russia, and other international actors. All sub- regional crises create human security problems, as conflicts compound the socio- economic issues such as severe poverty and food insecurity.

Security experts believing in Security Sector Reforms are advocating for a shift from purely reactive military responses, as was seen in the Benin Republic in Operations Atileyin Alaafia 1 and 2, to integrated strategies that emphasise security sector governance and poverty alleviation.

Deployments and Nigeria’s regional ambition

Operations like Atileyin Alaafia reveal Nigeria’s ambition to play recognisable security roles in West Africa. As the nation deploys troops for regional peacebuilding, it signals its commitment to prevent instability in neighbouring nations. These are achieved through the Projection of Regional Hegemony, where troops are utilized to support and stabilise neighbouring governments.

Another is Economic and trade protection, which is achieved through securing transit corridors. Ensuring stability in nearby nations directly protects vital trade routes and supply chains, reinforcing Nigeria’s goal to remain the dominant economic engine and logistics hub in the region.

Lastly is geopolitical influence. By taking the lead in localised peacekeeping and counter-insurgency, Nigeria cements its status as a reliable partner to Western allies like the United States of America and the European Union.

Conclusion

As the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu thanked President Bola Tinubu for his sustained support to the Army through strategic interventions targeted at improving personnel welfare, infrastructure, and operational capabilities, he also commended the troops for their discipline, resilience, and exemplary conduct during the mission.

He noted, “The Nigerian Army will continue to uphold its constitutional mandate while contributing meaningfully to regional and international peace efforts.”

According to the military spokesperson, Lt. Col. Appolonia Anele, the successful execution of the mission (Operations Atileyin Alafia 1 and 2) underscores the capacity of the Nigerian Army to support regional peace initiatives. It also highlights Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting democratic governance within the West African sub- region in line with the objectives of ECOWAS.