Nigeria, Benin Strengthen Defence Ties to Tackle Cross-Border Insecurity
Oru Leonard
Abuja, Aug. 7, 2026 – Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have reaffirmed their commitment to stronger defence cooperation and a coordinated regional security strategy following the conclusion of a three-day working visit to Cotonou by the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd).
The high-level visit focused on deepening bilateral military collaboration, enhancing intelligence sharing, improving border security, and strengthening joint efforts to combat terrorism, banditry, piracy, and other transnational crimes across West Africa.
Hosted by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, General Musa held strategic discussions with senior military officials on the need for greater coordination among regional security institutions to address the evolving security challenges confronting the sub-region.
A major outcome of the meetings was the agreement to establish seamless real-time intelligence-sharing mechanisms that would enable both countries to detect, track, and neutralise criminal and insurgent networks operating across their shared borders before they strike.
Reiterating Nigeria’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, General Musa called for stronger collaboration to deny violent extremist groups safe havens within border communities. He stressed that Nigerian security forces remain relentless in their operations against terrorists, bandits, and other armed criminal groups.
To strengthen border security, Nigeria also proposed wider operational cooperation that would enable security personnel from both countries to better prevent cross-border infiltration, insurgent movements, and illegal trafficking activities.
As part of the visit, the Nigerian delegation toured the Centre for Post Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ), where discussions centred on technology-driven defence capabilities, capacity building, industrial development, and expanding economic cooperation in line with ECOWAS protocols and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
General Musa also visited Nigerian Army personnel deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, under Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II, a Peace Support Mission in the Republic of Benin. Addressing the troops, he commended their professionalism and assured them of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to improving their welfare and operational support.
“We are going to partner with the troops of the Republic of Benin to ensure that we stop all those bandits and criminals that are killing people in our countries. We must work together to prevent them from infiltrating through our borders,” the minister said.
He further assured the troops that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained committed to enhancing their welfare, providing the necessary logistics, and ensuring they were adequately equipped to carry out their responsibilities.
During the visit, General Musa also met with Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Mrs. Mopelola Ibrahim, where discussions centred on advancing Nigeria’s regional security objectives and strengthening diplomatic cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.
The minister has since returned to Abuja, concluding a visit widely seen as reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership role in promoting regional security cooperation and collective action against emerging security threats in West Africa.
