NAF helicopter makes emergency landing on Benue farmland after anti-kidnap operation

A Nigerian Air Force, NAF, helicopter has made a “precautionary landing” on a farmland in Benue State after completing a close air support mission for ground troops operating against suspected kidnappers.

The incident occurred in the Utur Tse-Igboji community of Makurdi, where eyewitnesses reported seeing the military aircraft land on farmland.

According to the NAF, the helicopter had been involved in an operation targeting criminal elements in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, close to the Enugu-Benue boundary.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation successfully disrupted the activities of the suspected kidnappers while assisting troops advancing on the ground.

Ejodame explained that the helicopter encountered no emergency but landed as a safety measure after completing its assignment.

“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 reads.

“This is in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.

“The helicopter has returned to base.”

The Benue incident comes just two days after another NAF aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing concerns over the safety of military aviation operations.

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp near the naval base in the early hours of Monday while carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.

Following the Ondo tragedy, Ejodame said Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, described the crash as a deeply painful incident for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.

The NAF also confirmed that no survivors had been found following the crash.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning in honour of those who died in the aircraft accident.On Thu, Oct 8, 2026, 9:30 AM Winner James <wnnerjames@gmail.com> wrote:

NAF helicopter makes precautionary landing on Benue farmland after anti-kidnap operation

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter has made a “precautionary landing” on a farmland in Benue State after completing a close air support mission for ground troops operating against suspected kidnappers.

The incident occurred in the Utur Tse-Igboji community of Makurdi, where eyewitnesses reported seeing the military aircraft land on farmland.

According to the NAF, the helicopter had been involved in an operation targeting criminal elements in Ogbadigbo Local Government Area, close to the Enugu-Benue boundary.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Ehimen Ejodame, said the operation successfully disrupted the activities of the suspected kidnappers while assisting troops advancing on the ground.

Ejodame explained that the helicopter encountered no emergency but landed as a safety measure after completing its assignment.

“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 reads.

“This is in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.

“The helicopter has returned to base.”

The Benue incident comes just two days after another NAF aircraft crashed in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, killing concerns over the safety of military aviation operations.

The aircraft, an ATR-42 with registration number NGR 931, crashed into a swamp near the naval base in the early hours of Monday while carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.

Following the Ondo tragedy, Ejodame said Chief of the Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, described the crash as a deeply painful incident for the Nigerian Air Force and the country.

The NAF also confirmed that no survivors had been found following the crash.

President Bola Tinubu subsequently declared three days of national mourning in honour of those who died in the aircraft accident.