A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter has made a precautionary landing on farmland in Benue State after completing a close air support mission against suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred in the Utur Tse-Igboji community in Makurdi, where residents reportedly saw the military helicopter land on farmland.
The Nigerian Air Force said the aircraft had been deployed in an operation targeting suspected criminal elements in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, near the Enugu-Benue boundary.
According to the NAF, the mission successfully disrupted the activities of the suspected kidnappers while providing support to troops conducting ground operations.
NAF explains landing
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the helicopter did not experience an emergency.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Ejodame said the pilot decided to make a precautionary landing after completing the 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 statement said.
The NAF said the action was consistent with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.
It added that the helicopter had subsequently returned safely to base.
Incident follows fatal NAF aircraft crash
The Benue landing occurred shortly after a separate Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp near a naval base on Monday while carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The NAF confirmed that there were no survivors.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the Ondo crash as a painful incident for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning in honour of the victims.
The Benue incident, however, was not reported by the NAF as a crash or emergency, with the military describing the landing as a precautionary safety measure following the successful completion of its mission.
