Sowore Hits Apostle Suleiman Over ₦1b Lawsuit On Alleged-Fake-Miracles
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/sowore-hits-apostle-suleiman-over-%e2%82%a61b-lawsuit-on-alleged-fake-miracles/
#Law #Apostle #ebonyi #Enugu #OFM #Sowore #Suleiman ©December 14th, 2025 ®December 14, 2025 8:33 am Founder of SaharaReporters news media, Omoyele Sowore on Saturday apparently refused to back down on allegations against the founder and the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleiman over reported cases of alleged paying people to fake miracles and give a chemical substance or injection to Apostle O.C Benjamin of Fulfillers House Church to perfect an alleged fake miracle of raising a dead man back to life, an allegation a man simply identified as Apostle Wisdom made while speaking during an interview with KaaTruth media earlier in the year, which, according to Omoyele Sowore, for Apostle Johnson Suleiman to remove the names of the media that conducted the podcast interview and the person that made the statement in the ₦1 billion lawsuit filed against him and SaharaReporters news media, shows, Apostle Johnson Suleiman knows the speaker, Apostle Wisdom was probably saying the truth, this, Omoyele Sowore stated in reaction to the statement earlier made by Apostle Johnson Suleiman on his personal social media accounts on Saturday, accusing the founder of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore of always trying to play the victim's role that wants to be persecuted for "fighting for Nigeria" whenever a case is filed against him in the court of law for passing across false and misleading information to defame someone's character, saying that; forgiveness is predicated on the admission of guilt and One cannot forgive someone who has neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor shown remorse. #OsazuwaAkonedo
Unsafe Nigeria; Several Dead As Anambra Market @ Nawfia, Church In Lilu Hit
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/unsafe-nigeria-several-dead-as-anambra-market-nawfia-church-in-lilu-hit/
#Breaking News #Anambra #Lilu #Nawfia #Njikoka ©December 8th, 2025 ®December 8, 2025 9:41 am Apparent unsafe nature of Nigeria was recorded again on Sunday in the Southeast geopolitical zone of the troubled West Africa country after suspected terrorists launched multiple attacks in Anambra state, killing several numbers of persons after the suspected terrorists attacked a Church at Lilu community within Ihiala local government area in the morning and burnt part of the Saint Andrews Anglican Church, where the wife of the Pastor was brutally murdered at the spot and in the evening, the suspected terrorists took the hit to Anambra Market in Nawfia community and shot sporadically into the Afor Market in the Njikoka local government area, causing several casualties, with video evidence from residents indicating that four of the bodies died on the spot and were in their pool of blood and large numbers of others rushed to the hospital, this, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the suspected terrori
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/sowore-hits-apostle-suleiman-over-%e2%82%a61b-lawsuit-on-alleged-fake-miracles/
#Law #Apostle #ebonyi #Enugu #OFM #Sowore #Suleiman ©December 14th, 2025 ®December 14, 2025 8:33 am Founder of SaharaReporters news media, Omoyele Sowore on Saturday apparently refused to back down on allegations against the founder and the General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleiman over reported cases of alleged paying people to fake miracles and give a chemical substance or injection to Apostle O.C Benjamin of Fulfillers House Church to perfect an alleged fake miracle of raising a dead man back to life, an allegation a man simply identified as Apostle Wisdom made while speaking during an interview with KaaTruth media earlier in the year, which, according to Omoyele Sowore, for Apostle Johnson Suleiman to remove the names of the media that conducted the podcast interview and the person that made the statement in the ₦1 billion lawsuit filed against him and SaharaReporters news media, shows, Apostle Johnson Suleiman knows the speaker, Apostle Wisdom was probably saying the truth, this, Omoyele Sowore stated in reaction to the statement earlier made by Apostle Johnson Suleiman on his personal social media accounts on Saturday, accusing the founder of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore of always trying to play the victim's role that wants to be persecuted for "fighting for Nigeria" whenever a case is filed against him in the court of law for passing across false and misleading information to defame someone's character, saying that; forgiveness is predicated on the admission of guilt and One cannot forgive someone who has neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor shown remorse. #OsazuwaAkonedo
Unsafe Nigeria; Several Dead As Anambra Market @ Nawfia, Church In Lilu Hit
https://osazuwaakonedo.news/unsafe-nigeria-several-dead-as-anambra-market-nawfia-church-in-lilu-hit/
#Breaking News #Anambra #Lilu #Nawfia #Njikoka ©December 8th, 2025 ®December 8, 2025 9:41 am Apparent unsafe nature of Nigeria was recorded again on Sunday in the Southeast geopolitical zone of the troubled West Africa country after suspected terrorists launched multiple attacks in Anambra state, killing several numbers of persons after the suspected terrorists attacked a Church at Lilu community within Ihiala local government area in the morning and burnt part of the Saint Andrews Anglican Church, where the wife of the Pastor was brutally murdered at the spot and in the evening, the suspected terrorists took the hit to Anambra Market in Nawfia community and shot sporadically into the Afor Market in the Njikoka local government area, causing several casualties, with video evidence from residents indicating that four of the bodies died on the spot and were in their pool of blood and large numbers of others rushed to the hospital, this, the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the suspected terrori
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00:00Founder of Sahara Reporters News Media, Omiele Sawari on Saturday apparently refused to back down on allegations against the founder and the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle Johnson Suleiman over reported cases of alleged paying people to fake miracles and give a chemical substance or injection to Apostle O.C. Benjamin of Fulfillers House Church to perfect an alleged fake miracle of raising a dead man back to life.
00:28An allegation a man simply identified as Apostle Wisdom made while speaking during an interview with Car Truth Media earlier in the year, which, according to Omiele Sawari, for Apostle Johnson Suleiman to remove the names of the media that conducted the podcast interview and the person that made the statement in the 1 billion nairahs lawsuit filed against him and Sahara Reporters News Media, shows, Apostle Johnson Suleiman knows the speaker.
00:56Apostle Wisdom was probably saying the truth.
00:59This, Omiele Sawari stated in reaction to the statement earlier made by Apostle Johnson Suleiman on his personal social media accounts on Saturday, accusing the founder of Sahara Reporters, Omiele Sawari of always trying to play the victim's role that wants to be persecuted for.
01:18Or, fighting for Nigeria, whenever a case is filed against him in the court of law for passing across false and misleading information to defame someone's character, saying that, forgiveness is predicated on the admission of guilt and one cannot forgive someone who has neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor shown remorse.
01:37In the podcast interview, Apostle Wisdom alleged that Apostle Benjamin in conspiracy with some members of his church, hired a man from Enugu State and numbers of other persons who acted as neighbors and family members that brought the hired and paid man to the church program held in a Bonnyi State as a dead man.
01:55According to the Apostle Wisdom, the hired man who pretended to be dead was put inside a coffin and transported from Enugu to a Bonnyi State with an ambulance.
02:06He said the coffin was not covered until the man was brought closer to the church to avoid him being killed out of suffocation.
02:13Apostle Wisdom said the initial plan was to inject the hired and paid man with an injection Apostle Johnson Suleiman allegedly gave to Apostle Benjamin.
02:22Apostle Wisdom added that Apostle Benjamin refused to use the injection because he was afraid that the chemical substance may kill the hired and paid man.
02:32Hence, they decided to open the coffin until the time for the fake and staged miracle was to be conducted.
02:38To buttress his facts, Apostle Wisdom said the man that was brought as if he was dead to the church program was sweating because the few minutes the man was covered inside the coffin,
02:49he suffered some level of heat that made his body start sweating.
02:53Sawari in numbers of statements between Friday and Saturday, said,
02:57For your information, Apostle Johnson Suleiman has sued me regarding the controversy surrounding his alleged support for individuals faking miracles during an interview conducted by Car Truth.
03:08This lawsuit marks the second occasion Apostle Johnson Suleiman has taken legal action against me over contentious decisions made during his ministry,
03:18following a previous lawsuit concerning Stephanie Otobo that he later amended and removed Otobo.
03:24The case has been ongoing for approximately eight years, and the most straightforward aspect to prove in court would be the matter of miracles.
03:32Apostle Johnson Suleiman, this charlatanism is, who is asking you for forgiveness?
03:38You sued me eight years ago over Stephanie Otobo exposes and later sought to end the lawsuit on the condition that I stop exposing you.
03:47I refused, you sent Frank Shabu to plead on your behalf.
03:51I told him plainly that the facts were correct.
03:54At the time, the Nigeria police force was at your beck and call, arresting whoever you pointed at.
04:01That era is over, we ended it completely, you even went as far as offering to stand surety for me when the Mohamedou Buhari regime arrested and detained me for treason.
04:11I rejected your Greek gift outright and called you out from detention because I know your style too well.
04:19This latest noise is pure bluster.
04:21If you were serious about any legal challenge, you would have included the podcaster Car Truth and the individual who alleged that you assisted other pastors in staging fake miracles.
04:32You claimed they've apologized and claimed they, don't know you.
04:36This was a lie, the podcast is very much alive and unretracted.
04:40You avoided them because you know where the truth lies.
04:44I do not need anyone to tell me that you perform fake miracles.
04:48Your staged money alerts to your congregation are well known and long documented.
04:53Could you please explain to the public why you amended your lawsuit against me, Sahara Reporters, and removed Stephanie Otobo?
05:01Was it not because you feared she would testify as my witness after which you paid her to come apologize before your congregation and then sent her fake alert?
05:10Did you not purchase a Mercedes-Benz GLK SUV and a house in the Maryland area of Lagos for a Nollywood actress, Daniela Akeke, and, when we uncovered the receipts, rushed to the Lagos state government to scrub the evidence from the vehicle licensing database website?
05:28I am particularly interested in this lawsuit because the time has come for charlatans like you to be confronted before a court of law and compelled to prove your so-called miracles and defend your ways before the courts, after all you were the one who had sued.
05:43I am not the victim here, my concern is for your victims, those whose meagre offerings and tithes you have diverted to fund these decadent pursuits.
05:53I feel deeply for them including the Nigeria police force officers who had to perish defending your decadent lifestyle in unarmored vehicles.
06:02At the same time, you rode in bulletproof armored cars into safety.
06:06Apostle Johnson Suleiman in a statement on Saturday, said,
06:11You Omiele Saware have consistently defamed individuals, and whenever you are challenged to substantiate your claims, you retreat under the guise of being persecuted for, fighting for Nigeria.
06:22No one is attempting to silence you, rather, the goal is to expose you for the fraud that you are.
06:29You Saware lied and defamed me, dragging my name into a fabricated story involving people I have never met and you were warned and given ample time to retract the falsehood, but you refused.
06:41Why the sudden attempt to play the victim simply because the matter is now in court?
06:45I am among those who genuinely believe Nigeria needs cleansing, but not through hypocrisy or deceit.
06:53Fair journalism demands that your publications be balanced, verified, and unbiased.
06:59Qualities you obviously have no regards for.
07:02For eight years, I chose to ignore you.
07:05That restraint has now ended.
07:07Every further unsubstantiated attack on pastors and churches in Nigeria, driven by your anti-church and anti-pastor agenda, will no longer go without an appropriate legal response.
07:19To those calling for forgiveness, understand this clearly.
07:23Forgiveness is predicated on the admission of guilt.
07:26One cannot forgive someone who has neither acknowledged wrongdoing nor shown remorse.
07:31As stated in, 1 John 1, 9, forgiveness follows confession, not denial.
07:39Sahara Reporters in a news report over the issue has stated that,
07:43Apostle Johnson Suleyman, the general overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International,
07:48has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Sahara Reporters, demanding a retraction of a report published in April 2025,
07:56and an apology across multiple national newspapers.
07:59The, cleric is also seeking 1 billion nairas in damages over what he describes as malicious and defamatory allegations linking him to a staged resurrection miracle.
08:10The dispute stems from claims made by Apostle Wisdom, a self-styled former associate of several Nigerian clergymen,
08:17who alleged in a viral interview that Apostle O.C. Benjamin of Fulfillers House Church staged a fake resurrection using an,
08:25injection, allegedly, allegedly obtained from Apostle Suleyman.
08:30According to Wisdom, the substance was intended to temporarily make a person appear dead for the purpose of performing a miracle at a crusade.
08:38The claims were amplified in an April 4, 2025 Sahara Reporters publication titled,
08:44Apostle Johnson Suleyman Gave Fulfillers House Churches O.C.
08:48Benjamin Injection to Make Someone Appear Dead for Staged Resurrection Miracle, Ex-Associate
08:55In the interview granted to the Cartruths podcast, Apostle Wisdom had alleged that the supposed miracle was executed using a hired young man,
09:04rented ambulance, purchased casket, and paid actors who posed as grieving relatives.
09:09According to him, the scheme was part of a coordinated plan to deceive worshippers during a program in Abakaliki.
09:17He claimed that Apostle Benjamin initially intended to use the alleged injection link to Suleyman but backed out over fears the young man might actually die.
09:26My augur, Apostle O.C. Benjamin, collected injection from Apostle Suleyman, he told me himself, Wisdom said in the interview.
09:36He described intricate preparations, paying people to act as family members, transporting the dead body from Enugu state,
09:44and staging dramatic confrontations with ushers who initially refused to allow the casket inside the hall.
09:51Wisdom narrated how the dead man, shut inside the coffin, endured heat and near suffocation before, sneezing, at the climax of the performance,
10:00triggering wild jubilation from the crowd.
10:02The angel in charge of raising the dead was even confused that day because nobody died, he mockingly remarked,
10:10describing the atmosphere as both chaotic and deeply manipulative.
10:14However, the fallout from the interview has now escalated into a full-blown legal confrontation.
10:20In a letter dated April 8, 2025 and addressed to Sahara Reporter's publisher,
10:26Omiyele Sawari, Suleyman's lawyers, Clement Onwemuna and company,
10:32accused the media platform of propagating outright falsehoods without verifying from the cleric.
10:37The letter described the publication as an aggravated libelous assault crafted from the spiral imaginations of a mischief-maker and blackmailer
10:45whose allegations were spread uncritically.
10:48Our client has never met any Apostle O.C. Benjamin,
10:52not to talk of giving him injection or substance to inject anyone to stage manage resurrection miracles,
10:59the letter stated.
11:00Suleyman's lawyers also referenced a new video by Apostle O.C. Benjamin himself,
11:06which has reportedly been circulating online.
11:09In the video, Benjamin allegedly denies ever meeting Apostle Suleyman,
11:14dismissing the claims attributed to Apostle Wisdom as false, fabricated, and malicious.
11:20According to Suleyman's legal team,
11:22Sahara Reporter's willingness to publish the allegations despite the absence of verification
11:27demonstrates a frenzied effort to disparage our client and constitutes the most wicked attack
11:32on the towering image of the televangelist.
11:35The letter issued a strict 48-hour deadline for Sahara reporters to
11:40retract the publication from all online platforms where it appeared
11:44and publish a formal apology on the same platforms.
11:47Publish full-page apologies in Punch, Guardian, Vanguard, Tribune, and Sunday Sun newspapers.
11:54Pay 1 billion nairas, 1 billion naira, as damages.
11:59Failure to meet these conditions, the lawyers said,
12:03would compel them to perfect our client's standing instructions, signaling.
12:08Impending litigation, the letter was copied to Apostle Suleyman himself
12:12and marked pre-litigation notice.
12:15So while he was deaf and deaf, if they may call the fact...
12:18I don't know about him.
12:19He was my pastor.
12:21One day I was in the minister's...
12:23He smiled on that day.
12:25He quickly rushed this guy.
12:27And he was talking.
12:28He said, I raised the dead.
12:30He quickly rushed him.
12:32You can raise the dead.
12:34He said, I said, I'm sorry.
12:34He said, I'm sorry.
12:34Father, Papa, bring his motto.
12:36Hey, you're in that motto.
12:37I was moved.
12:40I have small bits in me, I will beat him.
12:42Small bits in me.
12:43How you manage the makeup?
12:44If he has not done it, then there is an impossibility.
12:48He said, you can raise the devil.
12:49yes he forgot he forgot he has not finished his work that his work finished
13:19my brother there is nothing like that now we they bring them we have a lot of and just bring
13:36missionaries they will come even if you want them okay like when we raise the dead person sorry
13:45well after the dead person would nobody die there is anybody who acted the dead person the baby was not
13:52dead the young man who hired the ambulance from a noble state we hire it in a body state it was at
14:02the crusade the program I speak to you was held in a Ezekona Hall in Abakeleke Ezekona Hall in Abakeleke
14:14the street behind model s baby's room people that knows now follow this email mean very well they know
14:26about all this who hired a young man and the ambulance who bought the casket only paid the
14:36ambulance man who came with 12 extra people to act as the family the compound the neighbor they want
14:48their hand so it will be 12 extra people if you deliver me today that was all hired in a particular
14:57program those 12 is only to follow people that will be wailing and crying and they know him is our
15:08person so like when 12 people come in a congregation and identify they know this person what is left
15:15again now for you not to believe the nurses came out and began to insult me the woman entered the casket
15:22he immediately will reach model s baby and the holy spirit said to me call the name of the baby
15:29he entered the casket initially there was a dross that was an injection collected from uh morga collected from
15:38uh what was his name joseley man he told me himself you understand he told me himself how was his pa and held the mother but that but that he's afraid of injecting that young man
16:05may the guy no no come die but he was told that that injection would just he's for the heart that injection has time like to expire
16:17God will give you a miracle that will change your story along the line he was very he was afraid of giving the guy the injection even when the guy agreed
16:27people are taking risk they accepted the conditions that i will give him the injection and nothing but he was afraid
16:39we already arranged it ballon the line he called and said no let the guy just enter the cassette like that
16:46without the injection without the injection that the mind no accept him
16:56we say okay since not like that that means like you know throws the sauce
17:00uh of the injection exactly make you know we say they want to use them set them up
17:04guys exactly so we say okay since not like that the guy will just sit down for the ambulance with the lot with other people that hired boss
17:14another boss another boss those are also missionaries but they came with two cars that boss is for those people that come to testify
17:26that they know the boy yes
17:28every limitation will pass
17:30when we get to mr big sorry motherless baby's home just a diversion to that very horse that was when the guy entered the casket
17:40the casket but the casket was closed when they want to bring it out
17:46it doesn't matter what is going on now but that was when he stopped receiving air
17:52just immediately they want to bring it out that was when they now shut it down
17:58down already we are in hangroove we are in stockings with all this cutting wood
18:04i told you and i'm hearing that again we were just there he died three days ago they wanted to go and bury him
18:10but the prophet somebody directed them to bring the body to the prophet to the prophet
18:18the prophet
18:20or shots we are like no no no no no he was saying he was he was us he was just standing in the pulpit
18:24what is going on there
18:26he said what are they doing with this does it look like mortuary
18:30bring it bring it bring it bring it
18:34and the bible said they brought the young man
18:36all right he hit one kid this guy oh
18:38inside here
18:40send them away
18:42what do you do with the sweat
18:44what kind of people do with the sweat
18:48what kind of people do with the sweat
18:50he hit one kid the guy inside that place oh
18:52first he said that they should open it
18:56you know because the shock of a lot of people they were unable to discover
19:08but later
19:10a lot of people start talking about it
19:12how the guy they sweat like that now
19:16you understand
19:18this is very funny
19:20imagine a hole
19:22the hole is even stuffy
19:24then there is
19:26then for the way that is is three days ago
19:28cut a sweat
19:30now you know
19:32it was two months
19:34that the cops cut a sweat
19:36apparent unsafe nature of
19:38nigeria was recorded again on sunday
19:40in the southeast geopolitical zone
19:42of the troubled west africa country
19:44after suspected terrorists launched
19:46multiple attacks in an amber state
19:48killing several numbers of persons
19:50after the suspected terrorists attacked a church at
19:52lilloo community within ihiala local government area
19:56in the morning and burned part of the saint andrews anglican church
20:00where the wife of the pastor was brutally murdered at the spot and in the evening
20:04the suspected terrorists took the hit to an amber market in norfia community
20:08and shot sporadically into the a4 market in the injikoko local government area
20:12causing several casualties
20:14with video evidence from residents indicating that four of the bodies died on the spot and were in their pool of blood and large numbers of others rushed to the hospital this the nigeria police force has confirmed the suspected terrorists attack on anglican church in lilloo but yet to issue statement as at the time of filing in this report on monday morning over the attack on market in norfia
20:26according to residents
20:38according to residents
20:40according to residents
20:42yet to be ascertained
20:44yet to be ascertained total numbers of persons were killed when some unknown armed men launched an attack near the aforemarket junction in norfia community in jikoko local government area of an amber state on sunday
20:54at saint andrews church in lilloo the venerable wife was shot and the target of the attack the pastor escaped into hiding and was later kept at a security safe place looking traumatized
21:06the church was burnt and the priest's properties including his car was set ablaze
21:11in a statement on sunday
21:13chief daniel akoya the president general of norfia progressive union gave a brief account of the attack on the anambra market saying
21:21this evening i received with deep shot the tragic news of an attack at the aforemarket junction in norfia community
21:28the incident resulted in multiple casualties caused by unknown assailants who carried out this senseless act of violence
21:36i strongly condemn this heartbreaking incident and the attempt to disrupt the peace of our beloved community
21:42i have already contacted the relevant security agencies and investigations are underway to uncover those responsible
21:50i appeal to all ndi norfia to remain calm stay vigilant and continue to cooperate with security operatives
21:57as they work tirelessly to restore normalcy and ensure our safety my thoughts and prayers are with the families affected
22:05on behalf of the norfia progressive union i extend our deepest sympathies and assure you that we are fully committed to
22:12supporting efforts aimed at protecting lives and maintaining peace in norfia
22:17anambra state command of the nigeria police force in a statement on monday early morning said
22:24the commissioner of police anambra state police command cp iqa or atugu condemns in the strongest terms
22:31the attack in the morning of the 7th of december 2025 carried out by armed criminals which resulted in the death of one person
22:39confirmed with serious injuries inflicted on a few others including the church building partially burnt
22:45and other properties destroyed at a church premises in lilu iheala local government area
22:51the cp states that this heinous and abominable act committed against innocent worshippers
22:57is not only an assault on the community but a grave affront to our shared values of peace
23:02sanctity of life and freedom of worship
23:05the command extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and to the entire lilu community
23:11and assures the public that the police shall relentlessly hunt down the perpetrators of this crime
23:17the cp notes that no community should be subjected to such brutality as the command will not allow criminals
23:23to instill fear or destabilize the peace we are working tirelessly to maintain in view of the above
23:30the command has already intensified intelligence driven operations deployed the joint security team
23:36and strengthen surveillance across the area
23:39the operatives are following every lead as no resource will be spared in ensuring that those responsible
23:45are apprehended and made to face the full weight of the law
23:48the command urges residents to remain calm and cooperate with the joint security team by providing useful information
23:55that can assist ongoing investigations for justice to be served
23:59the command remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property across Sihiala and the entire state
24:06S.P. Akenga Tochoku, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra State Police Command stated
24:12President Bola Ahmed Tanubu of Nigeria has expressed happiness that Nigeria troops both air and land soldiers have successfully foiled the war
24:28the coup attempt in Benin Republic on Sunday saying
24:32latest report from the Benin Republic indicated that Colonel Pascal Tigre
24:37the leader of the mutineers who seized the country's national television on Sunday
24:41is on the run and some other members of the group have been arrested as the defense and security forces in the country thwarted the attempted push
24:49and according to the Nigeria president
24:53Nigeria government acted on two separate requests from the government of Benin Republic
24:58saying President Tanubu first ordered Nigerian air force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national TV and the military camp where they had regrouped
25:11and secondly ordered ground troops into the Benin Republic territory which the Nigeria military troops have been confirmed to have taken positions in both air and land space in the Benin Republic
25:22with some local residents saying a few minutes ago that the gun battle is still ongoing
25:27Bayo Onanuga the spokesperson to the Nigeria president in a number of statements on Sunday said coup in Benin fails
25:37mutineers in military uniform who attempted to overthrow President Patrice Talon's democratic government on Sunday in the Republic of Benin have failed
25:47the mutineers seized the national TV after failing to enter President Talon's residence
25:52The latest report from Cotonou said the National Guard has taken control of the situation and surrounded the television station
26:00According to 24 Hours in Benin, discussions are underway with the mutineers, now holed up inside the station
26:08Benin's interior minister, Alasane Sidhu says the country's armed forces have thwarted an attempted coup
26:15His statement came after soldiers appeared on state television and announced the removal of President Patrice Talon
26:22The closure of borders and suspension of political parties
26:25President Bola Ahmed Tanubu has commended the gallantry of Nigeria's military on Sunday for responding swiftly to the request by the government of Benin Republic to save its 35 year old democracy from coup plotters who struck at dawn today
26:40Acting on two separate requests from the government of Benin
26:46President Tanubu first ordered Nigerian air force fighter jets to enter the country and take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters from the national TV and a military camp where they had regrouped
26:57The Republic of Benin, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a note verbal, requested immediate Nigerian air support, in view of the urgency and seriousness of the situation and to safeguard the constitutional order, protect national institutions and ensure the security of the population
27:16In the second request, the authorities in Benin requested the deployment of Nigerian air force assets within Beninois airspace for surveillance and rapid intervention operations under Benin-led coordination
27:29The Benin government also requested Nigerian ground forces, strictly for missions approved by the Beninese command authority in support of the protection of constitutional institutions and the containment of armed groups
27:42Nigeria's, Nigeria's chief of defense staff, General Olafemi Oliade, said all the requests have been fulfilled, with Nigerian ground forces now in Benin
27:52Ours is to comply with the order of the commander in chief of our armed forces, President Tanubu, he said
27:59Constitutional order was upended in the Republic of Benin, Nigeria's neighbour, when some soldiers led by Colonel Pascal Tigre announced a coup on Sunday morning
28:10The putschists seized the national TV and claimed they had toppled President Patrice Talon and suspended all democratic institutions
28:19It took some hours before the government's loyal forces, assisted by Nigeria, took control and flushed out the coup plotters from the national TV
28:28In his remarks after the restoration of the democratic and constitutional order, President Tanubu saluted the Nigerian armed forces for standing firm as a protector and defender
28:39of democracy
28:41Today, the Nigerian armed forces stood gallantly as a defender and protector of constitutional order in the Republic of Benin on the invitation of the government
28:50Our armed forces acted within the ambit of the ECOWAS protocol on democracy and good governance
28:57They have helped stabilize a neighboring country and have made us proud of their commitment to sustaining our democratic values and ideals since 1999
29:06Nigeria stands firmly with the government and people of the Republic of Benin
29:12The latest report from the Benin Republic said Colonel Pascal Tigre, the leader of the mutineers who seized the country's national TV on Sunday, is on the run
29:22However, some other members of the group have been arrested as the defence and security forces in the country thwarted the attempted putsch
29:30Benin's interior minister, Alasane Sidhu has appeared on national TV to announce that the coup has been thwarted
29:38Early on Sunday morning, the 7th of December 2025, a small group of soldiers launched a mutiny aimed at destabilizing the state and its institutions
29:48Faced with this situation, the Beninist armed forces and their leadership, true to their oath, remained committed to the Republic
29:56Their response allowed them to retain control of the situation and foil the attempt
30:02The government therefore urges the population to go about their activities as normal
30:08Omiele Saware, the founder of Sahara Reporters News Media and a human rights activist, in a statement on Sunday, said
30:16The so-called coups in Guinea-Bissau and the latest episode in the Benin Republic share disturbing similarities
30:23In Guinea-Bissau, the phony coup unfolded after a criminal former president effectively invited the military to intervene
30:30to avoid announcing elections and relinquishing power to an opposition figure with a popular mandate
30:36It was not a seizure of power to restore order, but a manipulation of force to escape democratic progress
30:43The situation in Benin raises equally troubling questions
30:47There are strong indications that President Patrice Talon, a deeply shady figure and a close ally of Asawajubola Ahmed Tanubu
30:55may have been aware of the coup plot, allowed it to unfold, and then used it as a political diversion
31:01to shift public attention away from his growing unpopularity
31:05In this sense, instability becomes a calculated tool of political survival rather than an unforeseen threat to democracy
31:13Of course, I am opposed to military rule in all its forms
31:17I am allergic to it
31:19Whether invited, staged, or exploited, coups are never a solution to political failure
31:26The answer to bad civilian leadership is not guns, military jackboots, and camouflage, but accountability, popular struggle, and genuine democracy
31:36It would be recalled that a group of soldiers appeared on Benin's national television on Sunday morning claiming to have seized power
31:44The group, which called itself the Military Committee for Re-Foundation, announced the removal of President Patrice Talon and all state institutions
31:53Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigre was thereafter appointed President of the Military Committee, according to the soldier
32:00The signal of the national television was cut later in the morning
32:04The French Embassy said on X that, gunfire was reported at Camp Gezzo, near the President's official residence and urged French citizens to remain indoors
32:14Shortly after the soldiers' declaration, a source close to Talon told AFP the
32:20President was safe and the regular army was regaining control
32:24Bernin's foreign minister Alushagan Ajadi Bakari also told Reuters
32:29The situation is under control
32:31While government spokesperson Wilfried Hungbeji told AFP, everything is fine, according to Al Jazeera News Network
32:39Osters who are on Neville, bringing youth to news in a more digital world
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