All may not have been heard of the circumstances behind the painful death of Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile who passed on early in the week. This is because the family of the deceased is calling for a full investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the death of Tolulope who was described as very brilliant and dedicated Air Force personnel. The whole country was thrown into mourning early in the week with the news of her sudden demise. Reacting, the Director of Public Relations and Information Nigeria Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola had issued a statement to clarify the matter. According to the Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Tolulope, 25, died when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.
She allegedly sustained head injuries that led to her death. The explanation seems not to have gone down well with the family. The immediate elder sister, Damilola Adegboye, in a chat with newsmen said the family is not convinced with NAF’s explanation. The family is demanding a thorough investigation into the real cause of her death. She recalled that they were together when Arotile received a call from someone that is likely a senior colleague and reluctantly left for the base as instructed. “A call came into her phone which she picked but from the way they spoke, I knew the caller must be a senior officer calling her to come to Air force base. She felt reluctant and I offered to drop her off,” she said. “One hour later, I read online that something serious had happened to her. I couldn’t believe that somebody I just dropped off is dead.
