Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have committed to strengthening joint strategies to combat terrorism, banditry, transnational criminal activities and maritime crimes threatening security across the West African region.
The commitment was reached during a three-day working visit to Cotonou by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) OFR, who held high-level discussions with his Beninese counterpart, Minister of National Defence, Mr Gildas Agonkan, and the country’s high military command.
According to an official statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Defence, the engagements focused on deepening bilateral defence cooperation, harmonising regional security frameworks and developing coordinated responses to cross-border security threats.
General Musa and the Beninese authorities reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding democratic governance, stabilising the countries’ shared land borders and strengthening security in the Gulf of Guinea against piracy and other maritime crimes.
A key outcome of the discussions was the agreement to enhance intelligence sharing through seamless, real-time intelligence fusion mechanisms. The initiative is expected to strengthen the capacity of both countries to track, trace and neutralise transnational criminal networks and insurgent groups before they execute attacks.
The Defence Minister also reiterated Nigeria’s zero-tolerance position towards terrorism and violent extremism, urging closer cooperation with Benin to deny terrorist organisations safe havens along the shared borderlands.
General Musa further proposed wider operational cooperation at the borders to prevent terrorist infiltration, insurgent spillover and illegal trafficking between the two countries.
“We are going to partner with the troops of the Republic of Benin to ensure that we stop all those bandits, all those criminals that are killing people in our own countries, so that we can deal with them,” the Minister said.
He explained that one of the objectives of his visit was to engage the Beninese Defence Minister on ways of coordinating operations to prevent criminals and terrorists from exploiting the countries’ borders.
The Minister also visited the Centre for Post Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ), where discussions focused on local capacity building, technology and defence industry development.
The visits were aligned with General Musa’s third operational pillar of intelligence-driven and technology-enabled defence, while providing an opportunity for both countries to exchange ideas on industrial development in line with ECOWAS protocols on trade and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
As part of the visit, General Musa inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed at Togbin, Cotonou, under the Peace Support Mission in Benin Republic as part of Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II.
While boosting the morale of the troops, the Minister assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving their welfare and providing the necessary support to enable them discharge their responsibilities effectively.
“A lot of good things that Mr President is preparing for you, we are following up to ensure that you live very well. We are providing the necessary aspects so that you can do your job,” he said.
General Musa also acknowledged the sacrifices of the troops, stressing that despite the difficulties associated with their duties, security personnel remained committed to protecting the country.
The Defence Minister further held diplomatic talks with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mrs Mopelola Ibrahim, during which he reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s commitment to military welfare and regional peace and stability.
The Minister subsequently returned to Abuja at the conclusion of the three-day working visit.
