A regional security specialist covering East and West Africa, Brant Philip, has alleged that Lt. Colonel Pascal Tigri — believed to be the mastermind behind Benin Republic’s failed coup attempt — has escaped across the border into Lomé, the capital of Togo.
The Beninese authorities had earlier issued a nationwide alert for Tigri and two other military officers after an attempted overthrow of President Patrice Talon’s government collapsed. The coup plot, which was swiftly neutralized by loyalist forces, prompted the country’s constitutional bodies to formally declare the officers fugitives on Monday.
Nigeria’s presidential aide on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also acknowledged the development in a statement shared on 𝕏, noting the heightened security situation within the region.
Providing more details on Wednesday, Philip stated on 𝕏 that credible reports indicated Tigri fled Benin shortly after the failed operation and is currently believed to be in Lomé. He also claimed that Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbé had traveled to Niamey, Niger, for a reported meeting with Niger’s military leader, Abdourahmane Tiani — a development that has fueled further speculation about regional political dynamics.
Philip had earlier raised concerns after a Beninese Air Force intelligence-surveillance aircraft was observed flying over southern Togo on Monday. According to him, the unusual flight pattern over Aneho, near Togo’s southwestern coastline, suggested that Beninese authorities might have been pursuing suspects who crossed into the neighboring country.
The unfolding situation has drawn significant attention from West African political observers, who warn that cross-border movements of military fugitives could complicate already-tense regional security relations. As Benin continues its search for Tigri and his associates, questions remain about how Togo and other neighboring states will respond to the allegations and whether the incident may influence broader ECOWAS political strategy.
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