Insane shots of Benin putschists firing wildly to down Nigeria's anti-coup attack aircraft pic.twitter.com/S5zgsvPGgs
— RT (@RT_com) December 8, 2025
A trending video has surfaced reportedly showing Benin Republic coupists firing at what appeared to be a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jet during Sunday’s failed coup attempt. The 10-second clip, shared by RT, captured a military aircraft in the sky as gunshots rang out. The mutiny, led by Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri, came amid grievances against President Patrice Talon’s leadership, but authorities said the situation was “totally under control.”
Benin’s government confirmed that a joint force of the Beninese army, NAF and French troops foiled the takeover hours after rebels briefly announced a seizure of power on national TV. Explosions were heard in Cotonou, believed to be linked to an air strike, as flight-tracking data showed jets entering from Nigeria. Fourteen suspects have been arrested, while security forces continue searching for others involved, including Tigri, whose whereabouts remain unknown.