A Nigerian Air Force helicopter landed on farmland in Benue State after completing a combat operation against suspected kidnappers, the military has said, clarifying reports that the aircraft had made an emergency landing.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, October 7, in the Ogbadigbo area of Benue State, near the Enugu–Benue boundary.
The Nigerian Air Force said the helicopter had provided close air support to ground troops during an operation targeting suspected kidnappers in the area.
NAF Explains Why Helicopter Landed
In a statement signed by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, the military said the operation disrupted the activities of the suspected criminals and supported the advance of ground forces.
The clarification followed reports circulating on social media that the helicopter had made an emergency landing on farmland in Makurdi.
According to the Air Force, however, the pilot deliberately made a precautionary landing after completing the combat mission while returning to base.
“Following the successful completion of the mission, the pilot, on return to base, exercised his professional discretion to execute a precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield,” the NAF said.
The military said the decision was consistent with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.
Resident Reported Technical Fault
Before the NAF clarification, a resident, Stephen Ikpam, had described the incident differently.
Ikpam said the helicopter landed in the Utur Tse-Igboji community, Bar Council Ward, along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road.
He claimed the aircraft had landed on farmland because of what he described as a technical fault.
According to Ikpam, residents rushed to the scene and helped the officers on board after the helicopter landed.
He said all the personnel emerged safely from the aircraft.
“We all rushed to the scene to support the officers on board, and to the glory of God, they all came out alive,” Ikpam said.
The NAF has not attributed the landing to a technical fault in its account. Instead, it described the landing as a precautionary decision made by the pilot after the operation.
Helicopter Returned to Base
The Air Force also moved to dispel concerns that the aircraft had become stranded in the farmland.
“The helicopter has returned to base,” the NAF stated.
The clarification means the aircraft was able to leave the landing site after the precautionary stop.
Benue Incident Follows Fatal Ondo Crash
The Benue landing comes only days after a separate Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Ondo State, killing military personnel and prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare three days of national mourning.
The ATR-42 aircraft crashed near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday while reportedly travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission.
The aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
Following the crash, President Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force to immediately investigate what caused the accident.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation,” Tinubu said, adding that the sacrifice of military personnel would not be forgotten.
He also ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast across the country in honour of those who died.
The two incidents occurred within days of each other, but the NAF’s account distinguishes them.
While the Ondo incident involved a fatal aircraft crash under investigation, the Air Force says the Benue helicopter completed its mission against suspected kidnappers, made a precautionary landing and subsequently returned to base.
For residents who witnessed the Benue landing, the immediate outcome was that the personnel aboard the helicopter emerged safely. The military’s clarification also provides a different account from the initial reports that suggested the aircraft had suffered an emergency or technical failure…Read more