Nigerian Air Force lose first fighter pilot

Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has lost its first female fighter pilot-Tolulope Arotile.

Flight officer Arotile, died yesterday 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.

A release sign by Ibikunle Daramola, air commodore spoke –person of the Nigerian Air Force, which was made available to BusinessDay indicates that 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.

She was the first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service, and during her short period made impactful stay in the Service.

late Arotile, who hails 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.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal 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. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest