Nigerians mourn death of first female combat helicopter pilot

By Taiwo Okanlawon

Nigerians have taken to various social media platforms to mourn the sudden death of Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, who died at the age of 23.

Arotile died after sustaining head injuries from a road traffic accident at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Base in Kaduna.

She died less than a year after she was decorated as the first female combatant helicopter pilot.

Confirming the news, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, said the flight officer died on Tuesday.

He described Arotile’s death as an “irreparable loss”.

(1/4) I was heart broken when I received the sad news of the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile yesterday in Kaduna. Tolulope, who was winged in October 2019, as the first female @NigAirForce combat helicopter pilot, was one of our shining young stars. pic.twitter.com/ZCjwMy2dwE

— Air Marshal Abubakar (@CAS_AMSadique) July 15, 2020

See social media reactions;

Rest In Peace Tolulope Arotile. This life is too short. This is a big loss to the Nigerian AirForce.

Tolulope is Nigeria's First Female Combat Helicopter pilot and Slayer of Bandits and Terrorists. pic.twitter.com/7wAf9LRuPH

— Pamilerin Adegoke (@UnclePamilerin) July 15, 2020

https://twitter.com/taiwoalabiho2/status/1283326965068500995

https://twitter.com/fimiletoks/status/1283302634645000192?s=20

https://twitter.com/or_lamide1/status/1283302337373777920?s=20

https://twitter.com/BiyiThePlug/status/1283302480995065856?s=20

https://twitter.com/Enitan_12/status/1283340964564815874?s=20

https://twitter.com/ajeromorgan/status/1283337404577980417?s=20

GREAT LOSS TO THE NATION INDEED. RIP TOLU… pic.twitter.com/y9GfqFjTuy

— Niyi Murele (@NMurele) July 15, 2020

https://twitter.com/sam_phrank/status/1283275900952489985?s=20

I can still remember how I felt so proud of her seeing her pictures all over the internet last year even though I don't know her personally. The same way i felt happy last year for her is the same way i feel very sad that she's gone.

This is a tough one to swallow. RIP Tolu pic.twitter.com/629G420uws

— Okezie Ifeanyi Praise (@okezie_ifeanyi) July 15, 2020