The Nigerian Air Force has clarified that a military helicopter landed on farmland in Benue State after completing an operation targeting suspected kidnappers in the area.
The incident happened on Wednesday, October 7, in the Ogbadigbo area of Benue State, near the Enugu–Benue boundary, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
In a statement signed by the Director of Public Relations and Information at NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the military said the helicopter had provided close air support to ground troops during an operation against suspected kidnappers.
The military said the operation disrupted the activities of the suspected criminals and helped ground troops advance in the area.
The clarification followed reports circulating on social media claiming that a Nigerian Air Force helicopter had made an emergency landing on farmland in Makurdi.
According to the NAF, the pilot made the precautionary landing after successfully completing the combat operation.
“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 Air Force said the decision to land was in line with established operational and safety procedures applicable after combat missions.
It further disclosed that the helicopter was not stranded at the location, adding that it had later returned safely to base.
Earlier, a resident, Stephen Ikpam, had alleged that the aircraft landed in the Utur Tse-Igboji community, Bar Council Ward, Makurdi, along the Welfare Quarters to Mopol 13 Ring Road.
Ikpam, who claimed to be speaking from the scene, said the helicopter landed on farmland following what he described as a technical fault.
According to him, residents moved to the area after the incident and helped the officers aboard the aircraft.
“By the grace of God, all lives on board were saved when a Nigerian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing on our farmland due to a technical fault,” he said.
Ikpam said the officers were able to leave the aircraft safely, describing the incident as one that could have ended in a tragedy.
“We all rushed to the scene to support the officers on board, and to the glory of God, they all came out alive,” he said.
The Benue incident occurred just days after another Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed in Ondo State, killing military personnel and prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a three-day period of national mourning.
The Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft went down near a naval base in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on Monday while reportedly travelling from Benin to Lagos on a routine mission.
There were 25 passengers and seven crew members aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash.
In the aftermath of the accident, President Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force to immediately launch a comprehensive investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
“This is a painful moment for our Armed Forces and for the entire nation. Our Air Force personnel put their lives on the line every day to secure Nigeria. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten,” Tinubu said.
The President also ordered that national flags be flown at half-mast nationwide in honour of the military personnel who lost their lives in the crash.
