Nigerian Army, Benin troops conduct joint patrol in Cotonou to curb insecurity

Troops of the Nigerian Army and personnel of the Benin National Guard have conducted a joint night patrol in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, with the view to curtailing insecurity at the border communities.

This is contained in a post on X by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region.

Makama said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cross-border security cooperation and combat transnational crimes.

He stated that the patrol was carried out between 12:05 am and 2:12 am on June 8 under the framework of Operation AWATSE/Operation A II and the Benin National Guard.

According to him, the joint patrol covered designated routes and key locations within Cotonou to enhance security, deter criminal activities and reinforce operational collaboration between the security forces of both countries.

The security expert further noted that no unusual occurrence was recorded during the operation, which was completed successfully and without incident.

“The patrol provided a visible security presence across the city while improving coordination, information sharing and interoperability between the participating forces.

“The joint operation forms part of broader bilateral security initiatives aimed at addressing trans-border crimes, strengthening border management and promoting stability within the West African sub-region.

“Regular joint patrols and collaborative operations remain critical to tackling emerging security threats and safeguarding communities along shared borders,” he said.