Tolulope Arotile Finally laid To Rest Today

The body of the Nigerian flying officer has been laid to rest in Abuja today. It was not an easy one for everyone that witnessed the burial. Tears and emotions flowed at the cemetery. 

The Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile were laid to rest at the military cemetery on Airport Road, Abuja.

An ambulance belonging to the Nigerian Air Force with registration number AF 442, had brought in the body.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Abubakar Sadique; Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and his wife; the House Committee Chairman on Air Force, Bala Ib’n Nalla other dignitaries and the family members of the deceased were there to pay their last respects.

The country was thrown into mourning last week Tuesday when the Nigerian Air Force first announced the sudden demise of the country’s first female combat helicopter pilot. She died from a road accident at the Nigerian Air force base in Kaduna State.

The air force said that the female officer sustained head injuries from the accident when she was “inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force secondary school classmate while trying to greet her.” though investigations are still on.

The Nigeria Airforce Force said Arotile was hit by an ex-classmate, Nehemiah Adejoh, who had no valid driver’s licence, noting that the matter, being a civil case, would be transferred to the Nigeria Police Force.

Tolulope will be remembered by her dedication to the service to her fatherland. According to the Father, she always has three things in her activities, work, prayer and meditations.

The sister also testified that she was still doing her fasting before the incident.

Many people have sent their tributes to the late gallant officer including the former President Good luck Jonathan.

In his words on his social media handle;

My heart goes out to the family and colleagues of late flying officer, Tolulope Article.

She was a brave patriot who pushed her self beyond limits to demonstrate her uncommon love for our dear nation. In the process, she made us all proud. 

In 2011 when my administration introduced females into the Nigeria Defence Academy to train as combatants, for the first time, it was to give equal opportunities to all men and women of the armed forces and encourage highly driven female officers like Tolulope to excel in her chosen career, irrespective of their gender. 

I feel sad that such a young gallant officer would die at the prime of her life. I am however encouraged by the fact that she stood out as a pleasing fulfilment of our dream of an all-embracing Nigeria armed forces devoid of discrimination.

By dedicating her young life to protect and defend Nigeria's strength, honour and unity, her memory and legacy will continue to serve as a great inspiration to our youth especially our girls. May her soul rest on the bottom of the Lord, he concluded.

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