A Nigerian Air Force helicopter on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, reportedly made an emergency landing on farmland in the Utur Tse-Igboji community, Bar Council Ward, Makurdi, Benue State, following what was described as a technical fault.
According to an eyewitness account by Stephen Ikpam, the incident occurred along the Welfare Quarters–Mopol 13 Ring Road axis of Makurdi, where residents reportedly rushed to the scene immediately after the aircraft landed.
Ikpam, who reported from the scene, said the emergency landing initially caused apprehension among members of the community, who feared that the incident could have resulted in a major tragedy.
He, however, said the occupants of the helicopter survived the incident and were able to come out of the aircraft safely.
“We all rushed to the scene to support the officers on board, and to the glory of God, they all came out alive,” Ikpam said in his account.
He expressed gratitude that the emergency landing did not result in loss of life, noting that a crash in the densely populated area could have had serious consequences for both the officers aboard the aircraft and members of the surrounding community.
Residents of the area were said to have gathered at the scene as efforts were made to assist the personnel involved.
The Makurdi incident comes only two days after a tragic Nigerian Air Force aircraft crash in Igbokoda, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, which claimed the lives of all 25 people aboard.
The Ondo aircraft, an NAF ATR-42 with registration NAF 931, was on a routine mission from Benin City to Lagos when it crashed near a naval base in Igbokoda on October 5, 2026. The Nigerian Air Force subsequently confirmed that five crew members and 20 passengers were on board and that no survivors had been found.
The Ondo tragedy has heightened public concern over the safety of military aviation, particularly coming so close to the Makurdi emergency landing. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared three days of national mourning following the Ondo crash and directed that a thorough investigation be conducted to determine its cause.
Unlike the devastating Ondo incident, however, the Makurdi emergency landing ended without reported loss of life, with the personnel aboard the aircraft said to have escaped safely.
Ikpam also appealed for continued prayers and protection for Nigeria’s security personnel as they carry out their duties across the country.
“We thank God for sparing their lives. May God protect our security officers,” he said.
OurWorldGistNews reports that details concerning the helicopter, the number of personnel on board, the nature of the technical fault and the circumstances surrounding the emergency landing had not been independently confirmed at the time of filing this report.
The incident nevertheless underscores the importance of aviation safety, regular maintenance and prompt technical assessment of military aircraft following emergency situations, especially against the backdrop of the recent fatal crash in Ondo State.
