Nigeria and Benin Republic have agreed to deepen defence cooperation and establish real-time intelligence sharing to tackle cross-border crime, terrorism, and piracy in West Africa.

The agreement was reached during a three-day working visit to Cotonou by the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, which concluded on Thursday.

This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by the special adviser on media to the minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde.

Hosted by Benin’s Minister of National Defence, Gildas Agonkan, both ministers and the Beninese military command reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding democratic governance, stabilising land borders, and securing the Gulf of Guinea.

Mr Musa said the two countries would align regional security frameworks to confront evolving threats.

Both ministers also agreed to enhance intelligence gathering through the establishment of seamless, real-time intelligence fusion mechanisms to track and neutralise transnational criminal networks and insurgent cells before they carry out operations.

Mr Musa, who reaffirmed Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, urged Benin to work with Nigeria to deny safe havens to violent extremist organisations operating along their shared borders.

“Nigeria is showing no mercy to terrorists, bandits, and armed extremists. 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 own countries,” he said.

As part of the visit, Mr Musa inspected Nigerian troops deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, under Operation ATILEYIN ALAFIA II, a Peace Support Mission in Benin.

He assured the troops of the federal government’s commitment to improving their welfare and providing the necessary support.

“Mr President is preparing lots of good things for you, and we are following up to ensure that you live very well.

“We know our job is very difficult, and most times people don’t appreciate what we are doing. But God knows we are doing our best, and we are securing Nigeria,” he said.

The minister and his delegation also visited the Centre for Post-Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ).

He said the visits were aimed at local capacity building in line with Pillar Three of his defence policy: Intelligence-Driven and Technology-Enabled Defence.

He added that the sessions provided opportunities to exchange ideas to boost industry and development in line with ECOWAS protocols on trade and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Musa also held diplomatic talks with Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin, Mopelola Ibrahim, on President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to military welfare and regional peace. 

(NAN)