Firdaus Obiremi
A Nigerian Air Force helicopter on Wednesday made a precautionary landing in Benue State after completing a close-air-support mission against suspected kidnappers, two days after an NAF aircraft crashed in Ondo State.
The incident occurred in the Ogbadigbo Local Government Area of Benue State, close to the Enugu-Benue boundary, during the helicopter’s return to base after the operation.
The Nigerian Air Force, in a statement, said the pilot exercised professional discretion to execute the precautionary landing approximately 10 nautical miles from the airfield in accordance with established operational and safety procedures.
The NAF said the helicopter had successfully completed its mission before the landing.
According to the statement, the aircraft was deployed to provide close air support to ground troops engaged in an operation targeting suspected kidnappers.
“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 NAF stated.
The military authorities did not indicate that the helicopter crashed, stressing that it had subsequently returned to base.
However, a source cited by SolaceBase said the helicopter touched down on a farmland in Utur Tse-Igboji community in Makurdi.
The latest incident came barely 48 hours after an NAF ATR-42 aircraft, with registration number NGR 931, crashed in a swamp opposite the naval base at Igbokoda in the Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The Ondo crash occurred in the early hours of Monday, with reports indicating that the aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and seven crew members.
The crash has heightened attention on the safety of military aviation operations, particularly coming at a time when the Nigerian military is intensifying air operations against terrorists, bandits and kidnappers across the country.
The NAF, however, described Wednesday’s Benue incident as a precautionary landing carried out in line with established operational and safety procedures.
The helicopter was subsequently returned to base, according to the Air Force.
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