The Interview Editors
Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria’s first and only female combat helicopter pilot, is dead.
Arotile, who hails from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, died on Tuesday due to head injuries sustained in an auto-crash at NAF Base Kaduna.
The Nigerian Airforce on Wednesday announced the demise of Arotile in a statement signed Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information.
The statement reads: “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.
“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.
“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.”
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.”
