Nigerians dey react to di shocking news of di death of Tolulope Arotile, Nigeria first ever female combat helicopter pilot wey die on 14, July, 2020 for di Nigerian Airforce base for Kaduna, north west Nigeria.
According to one statement from di Airforce, di young flying officer die from head injury wey she get from di road accident wey happun for NAF base Kaduna.
Her former classmate, seatmate and friend Musa Muhammad tell BBC say, her death dey very sad since she bin get very promising career for front of her for Nigerian Airforce.
Musa and Tolu wey both attend Nigeria Airforce Primary school for Kaduna and still maintain dia friendship till adulthood. As she choose career for Nigerian military, Musa go study chemistry for Usmanu Danfodio University for Sokoto but im and Tolu neva lose touch till she die.
“Tolu’s death dey very painful to me because she get very promising career for her front for Nigerian Airforce, she dey very smart and focused since from primary school.”
“I dey always tease her about her height even in for last chat, I dey tell her say hope you don grow one inch taller and she just laugh and respond say wait till you see me.”
Musa say dia last chat na wen e write article about coronavirus cases for Kano and she come respond to wetin im write.
“From primary school she show say she love military and dey interested dis na why wen she enter Airforce Secondary school. She join di cadet force to show say military na wia her mind dey.” Muhammed tok.
How Arotile rise to make history as Nigeria first female combat helicopter pilot
Di late flying officer na native of Iffe area in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State,
She die on 14 July 2020, less than eight month wey dem decorate her.
Arotile say she join di military because of her passion for di military. She say to be military personnel na her long time ambition, di carriage and wetin dem stand for dey exceptional.
See how her career waka.
- Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile get admission into di Nigerian Defence Academy on 22nd September 2012.
- Dem commission her into di Nigerian Airforce for 16 September 2017 as a member of di Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64.
- For October 2019, di Nigerian Air Force bin decorate her as di first female pilot wey di service go get in 55 years.
Di Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar for di ceremony say “out of di 13 pilots wey qualify for di ogbonge award of di NAF wing, two of dem na female”. Di first female fighter pilot winged na flying officer Kafayat Sanni and di first female helicopter pilot na Tolulope Arotile.
During her short stay for di service, di Nigerian Air Force say late Arotile contribute well to destroy armed bandits wey dey di North Central States and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
More reactions to her death
Di news of her death touch many pipo as politicians, her friend, di Chief of Air Staff and other Nigerians don react to di news.
Di Chief of Air Staff Sadique Abubakar for twitter say im remember di time im meet her for one operational visit, she show eagerness to bring lasting peace to di North wey get security challenges. He say her death na huge loss to di Nigeria Air Force, her family and di entire nation.
(3/4) I recall meeting her at the Minna Airport, while on operational visit, after one of such missions & seeing her eagerness to contribute towards the restoration of lasting peace to the affected areas. Her death is a huge loss to @NigAirForce family & indeed the entire Nation. pic.twitter.com/6OeL3JcX8U
— Air Marshal Abubakar (@CAS_AMSadique) July 15, 2020
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. pic.twitter.com/jAZ4dmJr1U
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) July 15, 2020