The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that one of its helicopters made a precautionary landing on a farmland in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, after completing an operation against suspected kidnappers.
The incident occurred on Wednesday at Utur Tse-Igboji community in Bar Council Ward, along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road area of Makurdi.
According to the NAF, the helicopter had provided close air support to ground troops during an operation in the Ogbadigbo area of Benue State, near the boundary with Enugu State. The operation reportedly disrupted the activities of suspected kidnappers and supported the advancement of ground forces.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the pilot decided to carry out the precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield in line with established operational and safety procedures.
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He added that the helicopter had since returned safely to base.
The Air Force reaffirmed its commitment to supporting ground troops, sustaining operations against criminal groups and protecting communities through coordinated air and ground missions.
The incident occurred two days after a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday. The aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, reportedly had 25 passengers and seven crew members on board when it plunged into a swamp near a naval base.
The NAF has not indicated that the precautionary landing in Benue was a crash, confirming instead that the helicopter returned to base following the incident.
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