Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has announced the tragic loss of its first female combatant helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, who died barely eight months after she was winged and conferred with a special recognition.

According to a statement published on the NAF official twitter handle, the 24year old combatant died as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna on July 14.

Flying Officer Arotile died on 14 July 2020 at the age of 24, when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.

The statement also pointed out that until her death, Fg Offr Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in Sept 2017 as a member of HQ_NDA RC 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service.

According to NAF, Ms Arotile was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA) RC 64.

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Chief of Air Staff (CAS) 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.He also described late Arotile, as a very intelligent, disciplined, confident & courageous young officer who added value wherever she served and also 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.

“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.”Says NAF

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