Nigeria and the Republic of Benin have pledged to deepen their bilateral defence cooperation, harmonise regional security frameworks and reinforce joint strategies to eliminate cross-border security threats across the West African sub-region.

This formed part of the actionable commitments across sectors during the engagement by the Nigerian Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, with the Beninese Minister of National Defence, Mr. Gildas Agonkan, during the former’s three-day working visit to Cotonou.

A statement on Friday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister, Leah Katung-Babatunde, disclosed that the minister urged greater alignment between regional security blocs to confront West Africa’s evolving security landscape.

The statement added that both ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding democratic governance, stabilising land borders, and securing the Gulf of Guinea against piracy and maritime crime.

“On enhanced intelligence sharing, the consensus was to establish seamless, real-time intelligence fusion mechanisms. This actionable intelligence pipeline will allow both militaries to track, trace and neutralise transnational criminal networks and insurgent cells before they execute operations,” it said.

Musa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and urged his host to work with Nigeria to aggressively deny safe havens to violent extremist organisations attempting to exploit shared borderlands.

He stated that “in Nigeria, security forces are showing no mercy to terrorists, bandits and armed extremists.”

To reinforce border security, Nigeria offered Benin an olive branch to allow security personnel wider pursuit range at the borders to prevent insurgent spillover and illegal trafficking.

During the visit, the minister and his delegation visited the Centre for Post Conflict Demining and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Operations (CPADD) and the Glo-Djigbe Industrial Zone (GDIZ) towards local capacity building in line with the Operation Pillar 3 of the minister – Intelligence-Driven and Technology-Enabled Defence.

The sessions availed both countries the opportunity to exchange ideas aimed at boosting the development of both nations in line with ECOWAS protocols on trade and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

Musa also inspected Nigerian Army troops deployed in Togbin, Cotonou, on the Peace Support Mission in the Republic of Benin under Operation Atileyin Alafia II.

Addressing the troops, the Minister re-echoed his insistence on no mercy for terrorists.

“We are going to partner with the troops of the Republic of Benin to ensure that we stop all those bandits, all those criminals that are killing people in our own countries, so that we can deal with them.

“One of the reasons for my visit is to come here and meet their own Minister of Defence so that we can sit down and see how we can work out our operations together, so that we can stop these people from infiltrating through our borders,” he said.

He assured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving their welfare and providing necessary support.

“Mr. President is preparing a lot of good things for you; we are following up to ensure that you live very well. We are providing the necessary aspects so that you can do your job. We know our job is very, 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.

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