BENUE, Nigeria — A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter made a precautionary landing on a farmland in Makurdi, Benue State, after returning from a combat support mission against suspected kidnappers, in an incident that ended without a crash.
The helicopter landed yesterday at Utur Tse-Igboji community in Bar Council Ward, along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road area of Makurdi, reports Daily Trust.
The aircraft was returning from an operation in the Ogbadigbo area of Benue State, near the Enugu-Benue boundary, where it had provided close air support to ground troops conducting operations against suspected kidnappers.
The NAF said the operation successfully disrupted the activities of the suspected criminals and supported the advance of the surface forces.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the pilot subsequently exercised professional discretion to make a precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield.
Ejodame said the decision was taken in line with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.
“The helicopter had successfully provided close air support to surface forces during an operation targeting suspected kidnappers in the Ogbadigbo area of Benue State, near the Enugu-Benue boundary. The operation disrupted the activities of the criminal elements and supported the advance of surface forces.
“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.
“This is in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions. The helicopter has returned to base,” he said.
The NAF described the incident as part of the safety measures available to pilots during military operations, adding that the aircraft had subsequently returned to base.
The development came only two days after a NAF aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp opposite the naval base in the early hours of Monday while carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The Makurdi incident, however, involved a precautionary landing rather than a crash, and the NAF said the helicopter returned safely to base.
The Air Force said it remained committed to sustaining pressure on criminal elements, providing close air support to ground troops and protecting communities through coordinated air and ground operations.
It said the successful completion of the Benue mission demonstrated its continued resolve to deny criminal elements freedom of action and support efforts to restore security in affected communities.
