The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) on Thursday buried the remains of late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the service’s first female combat helicopter pilot, at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
Ms Arotile, who died on July 14, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna, was buried with full military honours.
A Squadron Pilot at the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group (405 HCTG) Enugu, she was attached to the Air Component of Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna,having recently completed her Promotion Examinations.
She was in Kaduna awaiting deployment for her next assignment when she died.
Speaking at the funeral ceremony, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Sadique Abubakar, said Ms Arotile would be greatly missed by the NAF.
Mr Abubakar said that even at this moment the NAF was still in shock and grief because it has lost a heroine whom the Service has so much confidence in.
He noted that the NAF’s expectations were cut short as a result of her sudden demise.
The air chief who eulogised Ms Arotile, noted that her short stay in the Service was highly impactful, as she was a committed, confident officer in her service in the North West and North Central missions.
He noted that Ms Arotile’s demise had affected the NAF and the nation whose sovereignty she protected.
Mr Abubakar thanked the late Ms Arotile for adding value to national security, saying the NAF and the country would always remember her contributions to nation building.
Speaking earlier in his sermon, Dogo Gani, the Director Chaplaincy, Protestant Nigeria Air Force, said the death of Ms Arotile was a difficult thing to comprehend.
He said Ms Arotile, a young woman of passion, and courage who took up the challenges of fighting evil, “is now gone.”
Mr Gani commended the CAS for taking up the boldness in putting resources together to realise Arotile’s dreams.
He called on political, religious leaders to raise young men and women like Ms Arotile to defend the country.
Speaking on behalf of the Arotile family, Damilola Adegboye, sister to the deceased, noted that she had dreamt to fly a plane as a child.
She said her sister was passionate about her job and family.
Mrs Adegboye thanked Mr Abubakar and the entire nation for their prayers, condolences and love shown to the family since the demise of Ms Arotile.
Present at the ceremony were the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gabriel Olonisakin, and the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sabi’u Zakari.
Others were the Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, among other dignitaries.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the family was presented with the national colours by the air chief.
Also, there were the laying of wreath and the firing of volley by the Burial Party.
