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How I Escaped Benin Coup – Dele Momodu Explains
Media mogul and former presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dele Momodu, has revealed how a disrupted travel plan may have saved him from being caught in the failed coup attempt in the Benin Republic.
Momodu shared his experience while speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme on Monday, noting that he had planned to be in Cotonou at the exact time the coup scare unfolded on Sunday.
Narrating the close call, Momodu said, “Yesterday to me was very surreal. I was going to wake up in the morning at 5 am to head straight to Cotonou, have a quick breakfast, and then head out to Lome, and then from Lome head out to Ghana. I had done that trip too many times, and it’s something I love to do, especially on Sundays, because there would be no traffic.”
He explained that the journey, which he had mapped out thoroughly, was abruptly cancelled late on Saturday due to an issue with his vehicle documents.
Momodu disclosed that the night before his planned trip, he discovered that his driver only had a photocopy of the vehicle particulars.
“Unfortunately, the night before I had all my international [travel documents], but then I asked my driver for the vehicle particulars, and he only had the photocopy. I wasn’t comfortable with that. I searched everywhere, my two offices in Lagos. I searched in the night, and maybe around 11 or thereabout, I decided that look, we must have botched the trip,” he said.
According to him, the missing original document led to the cancellation of the trip. “I called my friend Rotimi… whom we were travelling together with, along with another friend… I called everybody in the middle of the night and said I’m sorry we won’t be able to make the trip, and that was what saved us,” he said.
Tying the experience to his spiritual beliefs, the Ovation publisher said he believes God intervened to prevent him from being present during the unrest.
“I was born in an Aladura church. So I believed in spirituality, and I believe that somehow God must have intervened because we would have been right inside Benin Republic, as at the time this melodrama was ongoing,” he said.
He added that his Nigerian-registered vehicle could have made him easily noticeable during the crisis, potentially putting him in danger.
Reflecting on his history of fleeing military rule, Momodu recalled how he escaped Nigeria during the Abacha regime.
“When I escaped from Nigeria on July 25, 1995, I escaped through the Seme border into Cotonou from where I went to Lome… from there crossed the Aflaou border to Ghana and from Ghana into England where I would live for the next three years,” he said.
He said the Benin coup scare brought back those painful memories and raised fresh concerns about democratic stability in Africa.
“I thought democracy had taken root in Africa, but it seems we are going backwards, which is very unfortunate. Let’s thank God it was quickly aborted,” he added.
Benin’s government on Sunday confirmed that it had foiled a coup attempt after a group of soldiers announced on state television that they had taken over power from President Patrice Talon.
The failed attempt adds to the growing list of military takeovers in West Africa, following coups in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and most recently, Guinea-Bissau.
United States President, Donald Trump, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his efforts to tackle terrorism and his resolve to address violence targeting Christian communities in Nigeria.
Trump also expressed his readiness to work with the Nigerian President to strengthen the relationship between the United States and Nigeria and make the country “stronger and more prosperous.”
The US President’s commendation was contained in a letter dated July 6, 2026, released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Trump’s letter was in response to a correspondence from Tinubu, with the US President particularly praising the Nigerian leader for his approach to tackling security challenges in the country.
In the letter, Trump said he appreciated Tinubu’s leadership and commitment to addressing the problems facing Nigeria.
He specifically praised the President’s resolve to tackle violence affecting Christian communities, saying the US was prepared to support Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.
Trump said, “Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your kind words mean a great deal to me, and I appreciate your decisive leadership on behalf of the Nigerian people.
“I applaud your resolve to tackle the issues plaguing your nation, especially the violence affecting Christian communities and it is a true honor to stand with you in the fight against terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous.”
Trump highlights US-Nigeria security ties
The US President said the relationship between both countries had become increasingly important amid the spread of conflicts across West Africa and other parts of the world.
According to him, Nigeria and the United States share a common goal of fighting terrorism in all its forms.
He also pointed to the 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap between both countries as a framework for strengthening joint efforts against terrorism and other security threats.
Trump said, “The United States-Nigeria relationship is crucial at a time where conflict has spread across West Africa and around the world.
“We both share a mutual goal of confronting terrorism in all its forms, and our historic US-Nigeria 2026 Defence Cooperation Roadmap has established a robust framework to accomplish this feat.”
US deploys Special Operations Forces
Trump further disclosed that the United States had deployed its Special Operations Forces to support and train Nigerian military personnel.
He described the US special forces as some of the most elite military units in the world, saying their role was to equip Nigerian troops with the necessary skills, tools and intelligence to protect the country.
The US President said the assistance was also aimed at improving the safety and security of Nigerians, particularly Christian communities that had come under attack.
He said, “I am proud to have deployed the United States Special Operations Forces—among the most elite military units anywhere in the world, to equip the brave men and women in the Armed Forces of Nigeria with the skills, tools and intelligence they need to protect your homeland and ensure the safety and security of citizens, particularly those of faith who have been under attack.”
Trump expressed optimism about continued cooperation with Tinubu, saying he looked forward to further discussions with the Nigerian President during his tenure.
“I look forward to our continued discussions over the course of my Presidency,” he added.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Thursday officially declared his intention to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Makinde made the declaration during a mega rally held at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, where he also unveiled a political alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The Oyo governor announced that the coalition would operate under the platform of what he described as the “Reset Nigeria Movement.”
Addressing supporters and party loyalists at the rally, Makinde said the time had come for Nigerians to collectively work towards rebuilding the country and confronting its numerous socioeconomic and political challenges.
“Therefore, today, I Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, FNSE, announce my candidacy for the position of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the governor declared to loud cheers from supporters.
The rally attracted political stakeholders, party members and supporters from different parts of the country.
Makinde explained that the alliance between the PDP and APM was necessitated by what he described as attempts to impose a one-party system on Nigeria.
According to him, the coalition is aimed at protecting democratic values and providing Nigerians with a credible political alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
He stressed that the movement would focus on addressing pressing national issues, including economic hardship, governance challenges and political inclusion.
The governor also urged Nigerians not to remain passive in the face of the country’s current difficulties, insisting that citizens must actively participate in nation-building.
“This is the time to confront our fears. Do not be afraid,” Makinde said.
He further called on Nigerians to engage in developmental issues as active citizens rather than mere spectators.
The declaration places Makinde among the growing list of politicians expected to jostle for the nation’s top office ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have declared Friday, March 20, 2026, as the day for the celebration of Eid al-Fitr following the non-sighting of the crescent moon.
The announcement was made on Wednesday via the official HaraminInfo social media platforms, which provide updates on religious developments in the Kingdom.
According to the statement, efforts to sight the crescent moon across designated locations in the Kingdom were unsuccessful due to unfavourable weather conditions.
“The crescent moon has NOT been sighted in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, #EidAlFitr will be celebrated on Friday, 20th March 2026,” the statement read.
The platform also offered prayers for Muslims as the holy month of Ramadan draws to a close.
“May Allāh allow us to utilise the remaining moments of this blessed month to engage in that which pleases Him, may He accept our siyām, qiyām & a’māl and may He allow us to witness many more Ramadāns in good health. Āmīn,” it added.
Saudi authorities explained that observations were conducted across multiple locations, from Dammam—identified as the first city in the Kingdom where the crescent moon is usually sighted—to Tabuk, regarded as the last observation point.
However, persistent cloud cover and rainfall hampered visibility.
“Dammam, the first city in the Kingdom where the crescent moon of Eid al-Fitr is sighted. Tabuk – the last city in the Kingdom where the sighting ends. Until now: Cloudy conditions continue at most observation sites across the Kingdom. Rain is currently heading toward observation sites across the Kingdom,” the statement noted.
Saudi Arabia’s declaration is expected to influence several Muslim-majority countries, including Nigeria, where the official pronouncement rests with the Sultan of Sokoto.
As of the time of filing this report, Nigerians are awaiting confirmation from the Sultan regarding the sighting of the moon, which will determine the exact date for Eid-el-Fitr celebrations nationwide.
Eid-el-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month characterised by fasting, prayers, and reflection by millions of Muslims around the world.
The festival is typically observed with prayers, charity, and communal celebrations among Muslim faithful.