A Nigerian Air Force helicopter on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, made an emergency landing on a farmland in Utur Tse-Igboji, Bar Council Ward, Makurdi, Benue State, after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
All passengers and crew members on board the aircraft reportedly disembarked safely, with no casualties recorded in the incident.
The incident occurred around the Utur Tse-Igboji community, along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road axis of Makurdi.
A resident of the community, Stephen Ikpam, who reported from the scene, said residents rushed to the area after the helicopter landed to assist the officers on board.
“By the grace of God, all lives on board were saved when a Nigerian Air Force helicopter made an emergency landing on our farmland due to a technical fault,” Ikpam said.
He added that the incident could have resulted in a major tragedy but for the safe landing of the aircraft.
“We all rushed to the scene to support the officers on board, and to the glory of God, they all came out alive. It would have been a double tragedy if the helicopter had crashed,” he said.
The incident comes only days after another Nigerian Air Force aircraft crashed into a swampy area in Ondo State, killing all persons on board.
The latest emergency landing has therefore drawn attention to the safety of NAF aircraft and the risks faced by military personnel while carrying out operational duties.
Residents expressed relief that the Makurdi incident ended without loss of life, while thanking God for the safety of the crew and passengers.
