The Nigerian Air Force has announced the sudden death of it’s first ever female combat helicopter pilot, flying officer Tolulope Arotile.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola in a statement said the combat pilot died from head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.


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Until her death, ‪Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the service.

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“During her short but impactful stay in the service, late Arotile, who hails from Ife in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.

“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late ‪Flying Officer Arotile‬ over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest, ” the statement reads.