The body of the late Tolulope Arotile, the first female combat pilot will be laid to rest at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja, on 23 July, 2020.
The burial plan was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola on 17 July, 2020.
He said that the late Arotile’s will be buried in full military honours as a demonstration of recognition for her dedication and commitment in service.
He stressed that since the demise of the NAF pilot, the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has received members of the National Assembly, Members of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the NAF headquarters to condole with him. Among them were; the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, as well as the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed. The joint delegation from the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly, comprising 20 members, was led by the Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Sen. Bala Ibn-Na’Allah, and the Chairman House Committee on the Air Force, Honourable Shehu Koko.
Speaking during her visit, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, together with the Director-General of the National Council for Women Development as well as leaders of some other Women’s Groups, said she received the news of the death of Flying Officer Arotile with great shock.
She however noted that the death of the young pilot would not be in vain as she would forever be remembered for her gallantry and contributions towards ensuring a secured Nigeria.
The Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on his part, prayed that God would grant Flying Officer Arotile’s soul peaceful repose and her family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Bala Ibn-Na’Allah, stated that the Committee, and the Senate as a whole, lacked the words to express how painful her death was to them. But described the late Arotile as a dedicated and goal-oriented young lady who lived an exemplary life that was worthy of emulation by other young Nigerians. While reiterating that the Nigerian Senate shares in the pain of the Service as well as that of the Arotile family, he urged the NAF to continue to give opportunities for many young Nigerian girls to realize their dreams of serving their Country as pilots in the NAF.
In his response during the visits, the CAS expressed his appreciation to the esteemed dignitaries as well as all Nigerians for their overwhelming show of support to the NAF over the passing of Flying Officer Arotile. He noted that the NAF would never forget her, not only because she was the first female combat helicopter pilot in the Service, but also because of her legacy as a very intelligent, highly committed and extremely patriotic officer who excelled in virtually every endeavour.
Air Marshal Abubakar recalled how, while on basic helicopter course in South Africa, she was selected, because of her excellent performance, to undergo a more advanced flying course on the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter in Italy before returning to finish the basic course along with her other colleagues in South Africa. Such, the CAS said, was her commitment to excellence on the job. “This was what gave us confidence to assign her to introduce the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the induction ceremony at the Eagle Square in Abuja on 6 February 2020; which she did excellently”, he added.
Speaking further the CAS noted that Flying Officer Arotile had left her mark in the sands of time which he said proves that when it comes to displaying excellence and adding value to the society, age or gender should not be barriers. He noted that her contributions through combat missions conducted, along with her colleagues, in the fight against armed banditry and other criminal activities in the Country would also never be forgotten. He disclosed that the NAF would therefore continue to give equal opportunities to female officers in terms of training, noting that a total of 11 female student pilots were currently undergoing flying training both within and outside Nigeria.
Olaoluwa Adekunle
Her death should be thoroughly investigated by independent authorities preferably outside Nigeria. The source explained to be her death was not convincing enough