It was all gloomy faces, forlornness as Nigeria’s first Combat pilot, Tolulope Arotile was laid to rest, after the unfortunate freak motor accident that killed her, involving her ex-classmate, who was “excited” to see her at the Kaduna Airforce Base.
Several powerful delegations were on hand to pay their final respects to the Flying Officer, some of them include: Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello his wife, Mrs Rashida Bello, the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr (Mrs) Ayoade Folashade Arikeh, Chief of Staff to the governor, Phar Abdukareem Asuku, State Security Adviser, Commander Jerry Omodara Rtd and the Administrator of Ijumu LGA, Hon Taofeeq Isah.
Some members of the Federal Executive Council at the ceremony were the minister of Defence, Major Gen Bashir Magashi represented by the Perm Sec, Mr Sabiu Zakari, the minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouk. Also present were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Abayomi Olonisakin, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, Representatives of Service Chiefs, the of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshal Muhammed Sani Usman and PSOs from NAF HQ.
The grieving family of the late Flying Officer were led by her Senior sister, Mrs Damilola Arotile Adegboye.
The ceremony saw the firing of a 21 gun salute before the lowering of her casket into the grave by her coursemates, after which the laying of wreaths in her honour by dignitaries, her family, and a representative of her Coursemates.
A sermon and prayer session was led by Rev (Group Captain) Dogo Gani, quoting the books of Isaiah and Revelations from the Bible, said it is only God that can comfort the Arotile’s family, the Nigerian Airforce and the nation over the loss.
“Except you Lord, no one can comfort your children because taking our sister at the prime of her life with so much good to offer our nation is a difficult thing for us to comprehend. It is very regrettable that compassionate people, givers are dying and those that are alive are the drug addicts, the bandits, kidnappers, and terrorists,” Gani said.
“Arotile was the Deborah of our time ready to fight evil and wickedness.
“Evil is still thriving, wickedness in on the in tease but at his appointed time, God will say enough is enough and take out of these challenges.”
In his speech, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar described late Flying Officer Arotile as a ‘National Heroine’ saying, “Even at this moment, the Nigerian Airforce is still in palpable shock and loss as to why this had to happen our service. “As a service, we had so much expectation for Tolu which she was already living up to with ease.
“She contributed immensely to the decimation of the enemies of our nation. Her death has really affected us in one way or the other”, the CAS said.
To the Family of the late Flying Officer, he said, “There can be no better consolation for Tolulope Arotile than the knowledge that the nation griefs with you for the loss of such a fantastic and committed patriot. Thank you, Tolu for adding so much value to the Nigerian Airforce and the nation at large”.
Tolulope Arotile, 24, till her demise had logged 400 hours flight in fighting armed bandits and other criminal elements in insurgency-ridden North West of Nigeria.
