Tributes have poured in after Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot was killed in a freak car accident Tuesday.
Tolulope Arotile, 24, died of head injuries sustained after a former school friend accidentally reversed into her while she was trying to greet her, the country’s air force said in a statement.
President Muhammadu Buhari said he received the news with “deep pain” and sent condolences to her family and colleagues, his aide said in a statement.
Buhari recalled he had witnessed Arotile skills in flying combat helicopters and saluted her contributions to the nation’s battle against terrorism and armed banditry attacks.
“The President salutes Arotile’s bravery in the field to protect the country from onslaught of bandits and terrorists, assuring that her memory will be indelible, and her efforts remembered,” the statement read.
Arotile pictured with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Nigeria has been battling Boko haram insurgency for more than a decade in the country’s northeast. Tens of thousands have died and millions displaced in the region.
Armed bandits have also unleashed terror in northern states burning villages and farm settlements.
There has been an outpouring of condolences from Nigerians and top officials following the tragic accident.
The Nigerian Air Force described Arotile’s death as an “irreparable loss”.The agency said it was in “deep sorrow” as the young pilot contributed significantly to combat operations against insecurity in northern states.
She made history on October 15, 2019 when she was commissioned as the first combat helicopter pilot in the Air Force following the completion of her course at the Starlite International Training Academy, South Africa.
NAF’s explanation for the cause of her death is, however, stirring controversy among Nigerians.
Aareonakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, has described her death as a personal loss, especially, to the Yorubas, calling on the Federal Government to properly investigate the circumstances leading to it.
Adams said this, on Thursday, in a statement made available to newsmen by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, even as he further described her death as suspicious as it raised many questions.
The Aare Ona Kakanfo, while condoling with the family of the deceased, also urged the International Community, the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), United States (US) and Britain to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the young and promising girl.
“Nigeria has lost one of its best brains in the military in such suspicious circumstances. The late Tolulope Arotile’s short span in life was remarkable with a track record of being the first female combat helicopter pilot. The best we can do as a nation is to get to the root of the circumstances culminating in her death.
“As far as I am concerned, reports of her death still remained suspicious to me because her death has raised many questions,” Iba Adams said.
The generalissimo wondered why such a promising, young girl be killed by a car put at a reverse within the premises of the barrack, wondering further who drove the car and where was the suspected killer at the moment, among others.
Adams, however, said the death of such a promising, young girl had exposed the nation as a country that never valued the lives of its citizens, especially, the best and exceptional citizens, declaring that he was not one to believe the story surrounding her gruesome murder.
“I take an exception to believe the story surrounding her gruesome murder. Her achievements speak volumes and many in the system may see her rising profile as a threat to the establishment, mostly with her passion towards ending the threats of the dreaded Boko Haram and bandits terrorising the North-West and the rest of the country,” Adams said.
Iba Adams, while commiserating with the family of the deceased flying officer, and praying God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, said he felt the pain of a father whose daughter’s shining light went dim unexpectedly, adding that the sadness of losing a promising girl like Totulope was eternal to her family, due to her talents and dedication to duty.
Mourning her demise, @Aloyebaba said, “What a painful loss! We need an investigation into how she had a road accident inside the base. The nation mourns this great officer, may her soul rest in peace and God grant the family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
Former Nigerian senator, Shehu Sani, hailed her as a “woman who conquered the impossible”.
Another Twitter user, @ChequerSpell, said, “Was she run over? If not, why would she lose her life by being knocked down by a vehicle in reverse? Too many questions, too few answers. I’m so pained over someone I didn’t even know, how much more her own family and friends. RIP.”
Johnson Abe wants the Nigeria Air Force to give Nigerians a more detailed explanation and condoled with her family.
Tweet @JohnsonAbe, he said, “This explanation is quite unacceptable. She is military, some accidents must be investigated and like this one. Condolences to the family and the Nigeria Air Force.”
@OluwafemiMaduka said, “This is so shocking in a rude way. In her short but momentous life she had so much behind her and a lot more ahead of her. She was a pioneer in many ways. May her family find comfort and strength in this very dark time.”
@danbaba_7 tweets, “I shed tears even though I don’t know you personally. I am tired of seeing young, brilliant and useful people in our society suddenly cut down and dispatched to the great beyond. May your soul RIP. This is really painful, her future was so bright.”
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