Nigeria’s female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, of the Nigerian Air Force(NAF) has been buried in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. She died from head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base, Kaduna on July 14, 2020.
The deceased was buried in a ceremony which took place at the National Military Cemetery in the capital city on Thursday, July 23. The deceased’s family members alongside the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal, Abubakar Sadique were in attendance at the burial. Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, was also present at the burial in honour of the 24-year-old Kogi native who has been hailed as a national hero.
The nature of Arotile’s death has been debatable suggesting NAF’s official account is unconvincing. NAF recently released a statement to criticise those using her death to push ‘meritless, misguided ethnic, and religious agendas’.
Force spokesperson, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said the deceased was killed in an accident when three of her former classmates, all civilians, spotted her walking on the base and accidentally knocked her down while trying to get her attention.
“The vehicle struck Flying Officer Arotile from the rear, knocking her down with significant force and causing her to hit her head on the pavement.
“The vehicle then ran over parts of her body as it veered off the road beyond the kerb and onto the pavement, causing her further injuries,” preliminary investigations revealed.
Tolulope Arotile flew several combat missions under Operation Gama Aiki in Minna, Niger State. She was winged as the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on October 15, 2019, after completing her flying training in South Africa.