Nigeria’s First Female Combatant Helicopter Pilot,  Tolulope Arotile, 23, Dies in Road Accident

The Nigeria Air Force, NAF, has announced the death of  first female combatant helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile.

She died as a result of injuries sustained from a road accident in Kaduna.

Her death was announced by the Nigeria Air Force on Tuesday on its Twitter handle.

“It is with great sorrow that the @NigAirForce regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died on 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna. 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,” the tweet reads.

The Nigeria Air Force spoke further of her: “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.

“@CAS_AMSadique on behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”