Nigeria’s effort at containing the menace of Boko Haram terrorists and other security challenges has suffered a huge setback with the announcement of the death of, her first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile.
Arotile, died in a road accident according to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), after sustaining head injuries from accident which occurred at the NAF Base in Kaduna.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, in a statement, announcing the tragic incident, remarked that NAF was quite distressed by the death of Arotile, an indigene of Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
“It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today (Tuesday), 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna,” the statement said.
Arotile who recently completed a programme at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa, died about eight months after she was decorated as the first female combatant helicopter pilot.
It added: “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, the late Arotile 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.
“We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”
