A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter carried out a precautionary landing on farmland in Makurdi, Benue State, on Wednesday, shortly after providing air support to ground troops in an anti-kidnapping operation.
The incident occurred in the Tse-Igboji area of Makurdi after the aircraft completed a combat mission against suspected kidnappers operating near the Enugu–Benue boundary in Ogbadigbo.
Clarifying the event following local reports of a technical failure, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, explained that the pilot landed the aircraft approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield as a standard safety measure.
“Following the successful completion of the mission, the pilot, on return to base, exercised his professional discretion to execute a precautionary landing,” Ejodame stated. He added that the maneuver aligned with established operational procedures after combat sorties and confirmed that the helicopter has since safely returned to base.
However, residents of the community offered a different account, describing the event as an emergency landing caused by engine trouble.
Stephen Ikpam, a local resident of Utur Tse-Igboji along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road, said community members rushed to the site after watching the aircraft descend.
“All lives on board were saved when the helicopter landed on our farmland,” Ikpam said. “We all rushed to the scene to assist the officers, and thankfully, everyone came out unhurt.”
Another resident, Orvendega Job, claimed the helicopter was carrying two pilots who detected an engine fault while on patrol. According to Job, when the crew realized they could not make it back to the airbase, they opted for an open field. He added that military personnel at the scene prevented bystanders from taking photographs or recording videos.
While local accounts pointed to mechanical failure, the Air Force maintained that the landing was strictly a routine safety precaution following a successful mission that effectively disrupted criminal operations in Ogbadigbo.
The incident comes just two days after a tragic military plane crash in Igbokoda, Ondo State, which claimed 25 lives, placing heightened public focus on military aviation safety across the country.
