Chairman of ECOWAS, President Bola Tinubu, has deployed Patrice Talon of Benin Republic to Niger on a democracy rescue mission.

The two leaders met today in Abuja to discuss an immediate solution to the attempted coup situation in Niger, where President Bazoum Mohammed is reportedly being detained.

President Tinubu told State House correspondents after the meeting that the situation could not be tolerated.

In an earlier statement, the president had warned that “ECOWAS would not accept actions that would impede the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa.”

The ECOWAS chairman said he was in close consultation with other leaders in the region, stressing that they shall protect their hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.

President Tinubu emphasised that Nigeria would stand firmly with the elected government in Niger, and that ECOWAS would not waiver or flinch on their stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.

Affirming their stance against the attempted coup, President Patrice Talon of Benin Republic, said he “would do his utmost to re-entrench the status quo I the country.”