Nigerian Air Force (NAF) first female pilot, Tolulope Arotile is dead.

The Nigerian Air Force disclosed this in a statement….

“It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.”

“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?”

“During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, 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.”

“We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest.”

It is interesting to know that Tolulope Arotile was the first female combat pilot in the history of the Nigerian Air Force. She died 8months after she was given a special recognition.

Arotile had just ended a programme at the Starlite International Training Academy in South Africa.

She was decorated alongside Kafayat Sanni, the first female fighter pilot, by Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff.