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The Nigerian Airforce first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile is dead.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force, Arotile, 23, died from head injuries after a road traffic accident at NAF Base, Kaduna.
“It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.,” said Daramola in the statement.
“Until her death, Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service. During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf of officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”
“It’s sad to learn that that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna, a tragic accident happened which took away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and first female combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Arotile,” Senator Shehu Sani wrote on Twitter, mourning the deceased pioneer female pilot.
“A great loss to our country. May her soul Rest In Peace.”
