Nigeria May Have Fallen Under French Control Following Benin Deployment, Scholar Raises Alarming Questions
In a televised interview, national security expert Kunle Fagbemi warned that Nigerian Armed Forces’ recent intervention in Benin Republic, in response to a failed coup attempt, might have placed Nigeria under undue influence from France.
Fagbemi argued that the speed and manner of the troop deployment raised serious concerns about whether essential constitutional protocols and bureaucratic investigation procedures were followed.
According to him, such a critical decision should have involved a convened meeting of the National Defence Council, and appropriate vetting by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Intelligence Agency.
He also challenged the legitimacy of the regional mandate used to justify the intervention, stating that the document attributed to ECOWAS was never formally signed and existed only as an unsigned statement bearing the organization’s logo.
Highlighting broader geopolitical concerns, Fagbemi warned that Nigeria may have fallen into what he described as a “French pseudo containment” strategy aimed at limiting the access of coastal West African states, he referred to the group as the “AES” (Airport / Atlantic‑coast ECOWAS States).
He urged the National Assembly to institute a thorough inquiry into the facts, to safeguard Nigeria’s sovereignty and prevent the country from being used as a proxy to advance foreign interests.
Background: What Happened in Benin
On December 7, 2025, a group of mutinous soldiers in Benin declared a coup, claiming to have overthrown Patrice Talon.
The coup collapsed hours later after loyalist forces, reportedly aided by Nigerian air strikes and coordinated with French logistical support, restored order.
But according to Fagbemi, the hasty Nigerian involvement, allegedly coordinated with foreign interests, may have undermined legal and constitutional norms.
Why Many View This as a Warning Sign
The swift deployment of troops without clear publicly available authorization has sparked fears about transparency and accountability in foreign military engagements.
The alleged unsigned ECOWAS mandate raises doubts about whether procedures for regional intervention were legitimately followed.
Given Nigeria’s historical emphasis on sovereignty and regional leadership, the intervention, if indeed influenced by foreign powers, could set a concerning precedent for external leverage over Nigerian policy decisions.
Fagbemi called for a full parliamentary investigation into the Benin deployment, demanding that the government publicly disclose all communications with ECOWAS and foreign governments concerning the operation. He also urged Nigeria to reaffirm its commitment to sovereignty and ensure that future foreign partnerships, especially in security, are governed by transparent, constitutional processes.