Tolulope Arotile with Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Pauline Tallen
By Ayo Kehinde
From been queen of the skies as Nigeria’ first female Combat Helicopter Pilot, well known for sortieing into enemy territory, Tolulope Arotile, 24, who died at the Nigerian Air Force Base, NAF, in Kaduna on Tuesday, has become queen of the hearts as her compatriots mourn her tragic passing.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the NAF Director of Public Relations and Information Air Com. Ibikunle Daramola, Arotile died after she was knock down by a car driven by her former Air Force secondary school mate.
The classmate was said to have been so excited in seeing her and in the course of reversing the car, it mistakenly hit her. She fell down and hit her head on the tarred road and later died at the hospital.
Daramola in the statement said “Flying Officer Arotile died on July 14, 2020 at the age of 24, when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.”
Tolulope with President Buhari beside her fighter Chopper
The sudden death of the Tolulope, who made front page news when she was commissioned in October 2019 as a the first female NAF flying combat officer, was as dramatic as the event that heralded her into the national limelight. Her age, and sex was an instant hit with her compatriots in a country where the mental and emotional demands for fighter pilots are usually reserved for the macho, tough man.
In outpouring tributes, Nigerians have taken to social media and any other outlet and channel to mourn her feat, her mark and her record.
According the NAF: “Before her untimely death, Flying Officer Arotile made significant and outstanding contributions to the war against terrorism, armed banditry and other forms of criminality in the country, flying several combat missions.”
For President Muhammadu Buhari ,Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile’s …” short stay on earth impacted greatly on the nation, especially in peace and security.
The President saluted 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.
President Buhari recalled her deft skills in manoeuvring combat helicopters, which he had physically witnessed with pride.
The President sympathised with government and people of Kogi State on the loss and prayed that the Almighty God will receive the soul of the departed, and comfort the family she left behind.
Arotile’s symbolic representation of the country’s industrious youth and women in her glorious achievement at age 24 was the subject of
First Lady Aisah Buhari in a tweet @aishambuharu.
She said she received the news of Arotile’s death with heavy heart. “I condole with the family of the Flying Officer Arotile, the Nigerian Airforce and the country over the irreparable loss. The deceased was an intelligent young woman, a huge potential, a representative of both the Nigerian women and youth and what they could achieve.”
Journalist, (Editor) one-time Nigerian Head of Media at the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, in Geneva, now Communications Consultant and Coordinator, JADESeminars, Angela Agoawike is heart broken
“Damn! We lost her before we even had her!” She titled her glowing tribute:
“Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile was her name, she was only 24 years old and we were just getting to know her after she was introduced to us in October 2019, less than one year ago when she made history as Nigeria’s first female fighter pilot.
“We were all happy and collectively joined her, her family, friends and the Nigerian Air Force in celebrating her across social and traditional media platforms. Finally, we were all happy that a young Nigerian girl had broken through one of the many invisible glass ceilings that inhibit their growth; others were bound to follow, we reasoned.
“It could not have been an easy ride for Tolulope – our girl- who made good in a male-dominated domain. No doubt like her male colleagues, she sacrificed and toiled before she could grab that success.
“And now, barely nine months after, the news hit us: we have lost her, just like a candle in the wind; she barely shone before she was gone, years of sacrifice and all; gone not doing what she loved and knew best how to do – sitting behind the cockpit of her fighter plane, above the trees, up in the sky, working to keep us all safe. Rather, she left like most who have gone before her – below the sky, the victim of a ‘car’ accident on the Kaduna axis of the cruel Nigerian road.
“And so, before we could really celebrate her and her exploits and use them as teaching moments for young Nigerian girls whose only achievements are the number of Instagram followers they acquire, she was gone.
“Tolulope’s death is a blow to her family and a nation in search of true role models for the youths who dare to dream dreams.
“Journey well history-maker and may your family, Nigeria and all who loved you be comforted
Chilake-anya Ndubuisi laid the cause of her death remotely at the doorstep of the government.
“Nigeria government failed her. They looted the passed, present and future of citizens. They neglected their responsibility to provide good infrastructure and good standard of life. Making many to have taking shot cut to their life experiences. May God in his infinite mercy, grant her soul eternal rest. Amen!
Jude Ekwedike @jekwedike pleaded for a fitting national honour: “She deserves a national burial and a posthumous national honour. Calling of First Lady, Aisha Buhari, he said; “Please ensure that your husband. @MBuhari makes this happen
With her boss, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar
Chairman of SIlverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce @benmurraybruce, said: “Tolulope’s death saddens me. As a nation, we must be cautious to avoid the needless loss of the best of us. May her soul rest in peace”
Dr Anne Muyiwa, is saddened by the death too: “
“Gone too soon… The lives touched live still. I pray the leaders honour her remarkable contribution in an indelible way. I pray her loved ones fond comfort in the trail she blazed
A journalist with The Sun, Juliana Obalonye is lost for words”
She said: “This one got me real good. She is not family but we all shared in her achievements, she made us proud. I loved her right from the start but today, she is no more: This cut is deep Arotile, Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter Pilot, Dies at 23 in a Road Accident!
Senator Shehu Sani @shehusani, repeatedly came back to her on three tweets at three occasions.
He said at first: “Tolulope Arotile: The Authorities should avail the general public with the details of the circumstances behind the death of this great Nigerian. “Traffic accident” comes in different forms.
Secondly: “Tolulope Arotile was a shinning star who broke barriers and defied conventions. She raced through an uncharted and dreaded path and braced the tape in victory. She refused to be hindered be neither the ceiling nor the sky. She was a woman who conquered the impossible.
Thirdly: It is sad to learn that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna, a tragic accident happened which too away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and First Female Combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Aritole: A great loss to our country. May her soul rest in Peace.
Arotile, who, according to Daramola in his statement on Wednesday, joined the Nigerian Air Force out of passion for the job, was born on December 13, 1995 to the family of Mr and Mrs Akintunde Arotile in Kaduna. The family hails from Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
