Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the first-ever and only female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force died in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was involved in a road accident that occurred at NAF Base in Kaduna and died shortly after sustaining head injuries.
Arotile was decorated by Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, less than one year before she died.
According to NAF, 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.
Some Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the sad development and pay last respect to Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter pilot and ‘Slayer of Bandits and Terrorists’.
Here are some of the reactions on Twitter;
Senator Shehu Sani
@ShehuSani
“It’s sad to learn that that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna,a tragic accident happened which took away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and first female combat Helicopter Pilot,Tolulope Arotile.A great loss to our country.May her soul Rest In Peace.”
Dr PamPam | Omo Iya Ologi
@UnclePamilerin
“Rest In Peace Tolulope Arotile. This life is too short. This is a big loss to the Nigerian AirForce.
Tolulope is Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter pilot and Slayer of Bandits and Terrorists”.
Olusoga Owoeye
@olusogaowoeye
“The lovely baby of the Nigerian Airforce and it’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has died in a road accident. This is ironically sad,after flying combat missions against bandits, she died in a road accident within the barracks! May her lovely soul RIP😥”.
