Good things never last, they say or how can one excuse this loss?. The sad news of the untimely death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria's first female combat helicopter pilot, has left the Air Force and Nigerians in shock. Tolulope died on 14 July 2020 at the age of 24, as a result of head injuries sustained when she was hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.
Late Tolulope Arotile was an indigene of Ijumu Local Government area of Kogi State, born in the year 1995; She attended Nigeria Airforce primary school and Nigeria Airforce secondary School, on the 22nd of September 2012 she gained admission into the Nigerian Defense Academy, She was commissioned into Nigerian Airforce September 2017 and was decorated as first female combat pilot of the Nigerian Air force in October 2019 after her training in Satellite school in South Africa. She holds a commercial pilot license and also underwent tactical flying training on the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter in Italy.
In her short service as an Airforce pilot, she got rid of bandits and some other criminal elements in north Central Nigeria under operation Gama Aiki in Minna, Niger state. She was at one time deployed to the North east to combat against bandits. Her death caused lots of pains and reactions as the young Airforce pilot was believed to have the eagerness to bring a lasting peace to the northern part of the country. Her death is indeed a huge loss to the Nigerian Airforce, her family and Nigeria as a whole.
The quality of life is not measured by its length but by its impact. Tolulope has been described as a shining star by the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Siddique Abubakar. She has left indelible marks, therefore, the memories of late Tolulope Arotile , Nigerian Air Force first female Combat Helicopter Pilot will forever be cherished in our hearts.
May the Almighty God grant her soul eternal rest!
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