Nigeria mourns the death of Tolulope Arotile, the country’s first female helicopter combat pilot
Kaduna, Nigeria – Tolulope Arotile made history in September 2017 when she became Nigeria’s first-ever female combat helicopter pilot. Sadly, the 24-year-old was killed in a car accident last Tuesday.
According to a statement made by the Nigerian Air Force, the accident occurred at an Air Force base in Kaduna state. Tolulope Arotile died of head injuries sustained after a former school friend accidentally reversed into her while trying to greet her.
Tolulope Arotile (above) made histrory in September 2017 when she became Nigeria’s first ever female combat helicopter pilot
Immediately after her death, tributes poured in from all over Nigeria, including the president.
President Muhammadu Buhari said he received the news with “deep pain,” and he sent condolences to her family and colleagues, his aide said in a statement.
Buhari, who is pictured below with Arotile recalled that he had witnessed her skills in flying combat helicopters and saluted the young pilot’s contributions towards the battle against terrorism and armed banditry attacks in the country.
The statement from Buhari reads, “The President salutes Arotile’s bravery in the field to protect the country from the onslaught of bandits and terrorists, assuring that her memory will be indelible, and her efforts remembered.”
Another statement posted on social media by the Nigerian Airforce said: “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 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.
President Buhari got the opportunity to meet Tolulope during one of his official tours
“Nigeria has been battling the Boko haram insurgency for more than a decade in the northern region of the country. Also, armed bandits have unleashed terror in northern states, burning villages and farm settlements, with tens of thousands murdered and millions of people displaced in the region.”
In addition to the president, there has been an outpouring of condolences from top officials, including the head of the Nigerian Air Force.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, said, “Arotile was one of the Air Force’s “shining young stars.” He confirmed her contribution, especially in the area of combating armed bandits and her contribution towards the security of the country.
“I recall meeting her at the Minna Airport, while on an operational visit, after one of such missions and seeing her eagerness to contribute towards the restoration of lasting peace to the affected areas. Her death is a huge loss to Air Force family and indeed the entire Nation,” he added.
The Nigerian Air Force described Arotile’s death as an “irreparable loss.”