The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Tuesday 14th July 2020, announced the demise of Flying officer, Tolulope Arotile, who died through a road traffic accident in Kaduna State.
Flying officer Tolulope Arotile was said to have died from her head injuries, she sustained during the road accident. She was NAF first-ever female combat helicopter pilot.
NAF in a statement released on Tuesday 14th July 2020, by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said:
“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.
Until her death, Flying Officer Tolulope 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 hails 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 statement added.
Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola continued by adding that:
“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 Tolulope Arotile over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest,” the statement added.
So sad, may her soul rest in peace…