Nigerian Air Force’s Precision Strikes in Benin Highlight Contrast with Domestic Counterterrorism Challenges

The recent precision strikes conducted by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Benin Republic have drawn attention to the stark differences between cross-border interventions and the country’s ongoing domestic counterterrorism operations

Early on 7 December, a small group of soldiers in Benin, led by Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri, attempted a coup, temporarily seizing state television and military installations in the capital. The legitimate Beninese government quickly rejected the takeover and requested assistance from Nigeria to prevent the situation from escalating Responding swiftly, NAF deployed fighter jets to Benin airspace, conducting targeted strikes to neutralize fleeing coup plotters and secure key locations. Within hours, the operation helped restore order, leading to the arrest of several coup actors and preventing potential spillover across Nigeria’s borders. Experts and military observers have emphasized that the intervention in Benin was a narrowly focused, intelligence-driven operation. Unlike domestic counterterrorism campaigns, the coup plotters were few, centralized, and exposed — a stark contrast to the dispersed, highly mobile terrorist networks Nigeria faces at home. Comparing the precision strikes in Benin to our long, grinding fight against insurgency at home simply does not make sense,” said a security analyst. “At home, our forces contend with large, scattered networks operating in remote forests, often blending with civilians. The stakes, scale, and complexity are vastly different. Domestic counterterrorism operations require sustained surveillance, intelligence gathering, and multi-front engagement over months or even years. NAF has reportedly neutralized hundreds of terrorists and destroyed dozens of insurgent hideouts this year, a testament to the challenging environment of Nigeria’s security landscape. The Benin intervention, however, underscores the importance of regional cooperation. By responding rapidly to the request of a neighbouring government, Nigeria not only helped preserve democracy in Benin but also sent a clear message to would-be coup plotters across West Africa. While the success of the Benin operation demonstrates the military’s capability under ideal conditions, security experts caution against using it as a benchmark for measuring success against domestic threats. The ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry remains a protracted, complex battle that requires continuous effort, resources, and strategic coordination.