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

A Nigerian Air Force helicopter made a precautionary landing in Makurdi, Benue State, after completing a close air support mission against suspected kidnappers. 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. The incident occurred in the Utur Tse-Igboji community of Makurdi, where eyewitnesses reported seeing the military aircraft land on a farmland.

The NAF stated that the helicopter encountered no emergency but landed as a safety measure after completing its assignment. The pilot exercised his professional discretion to execute a precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield, in accordance with established operational and safety procedures following combat missions.

The helicopter has since returned to base. This incident follows another NAF aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, according to Daily Post Nigeria.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Daily Post Nigeria — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.