Sad day as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, dies in road crash

Tolulope Arotile Nigeria's female combat helicopter pilot

The Nigerian Air Force(NAF), has announced the death of its first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.

NAF in a statement released on Wednesday said she died as a result of head injuries sustained from a road accident at its base in Kaduna.

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NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, who made this known in a statement, 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, Fg Offr Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in Sept 2017 as a member of Nigeria Defence 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, 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.

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While describing the late pilot’s death as an irreplaceable loss, NAF said it commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.

Read full statement below :

View this post on Instagram

NAF LOSES FLYING OFFICER TOLULOPE AROTILE IN ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN KADUNA 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 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 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. IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA Air Commodore Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force 14 July 2020

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