Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the first-ever and only female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Airforce has died. The tragic incident occurred in NAF base, Kaduna yesterday after she sustained head injuries from a road accident.
The statement signed by Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force reads below
It is with great sorrow that the Nigeria Air Force regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died on 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.
Until her death, Fg Offr Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in Sept 2017 as a member of Nigeria Defense Academy RC 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.
During her short but impactful stay in the Service, 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.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique 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
