Three people have been arrested on Sunday over an alleged plot to poison Benin's head of state Thomas Boni Yayi, BBC reports.

The suspects include Benin's former minister of commerce, Moudjaidou Soumanou, Dr Ibrahim Mama Cisse, and Zouberath Kora-Seke, one of the president's nieces who allegedly worked at his residence.

Those who detained faced charges of criminal conspiracy and attempted assassination.

According to BBC suspicion was aroused when the president showed signs of weakness and started vomiting.