Flying officer Tolulope Arotile has died following a road accident at the Airforce Base in Kaduna, the Nigerian Airforce headquarters disclosed.
In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Flying Officer Arotile sustained head injuries which resulted to her death on July 14, 2020.
“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,” the statement partly read.
The late Flying Officer Arotile was from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State and flew combat aircraft to support troops in Niger State.
“During her short but impactful stay in the Service… contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central State of Bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.”
The West African Pilot News reports that the late Arotile was part of the Nigerian Airforce initiative to ensure gender balance and equity in the military that had been dominated by men for several years.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar condoled with the family of the late Flying Officer Arotile over the loss.
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