It is indeed a sad one for Nigerian Airforce and the entire country at large, as the first female helicopter pilot , Tolulope Arotile dies.
The promising lady had just finished a programme at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa and has just been decorated eight months ago as the first female fighter pilot in the history of the NAF.
Arotile who was said to have lived a short but impactful life was killed in an accident at the Nigerian Air Force base in Kaduna state.
According to a statement, the deceased did not recover from the injury sustained in the accident.
“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,” the statement read.
“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 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.”
