NAF to release findings after inquiry into Arotile's death

Following the tragic demise of Nigeria's Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the Nigerian Air Force says it will, on Sunday, give details of the outcome of its preliminary investigation into her death.

Nigeria's first female combat helicopter pilot died due to head injuries sustained in a road traffic accident at the NAF base in Kaduna State on Tuesday.

The air force said her former classmate “inadvertently hit her” when the fellow reversed the vehicle while trying to greet her.

NAF said the fellow and another occupant of the vehicle had been detained and investigation was ongoing.

Arotile would be buried Thursday, July 23, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, with full military honours.

NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, in a statement on Saturday night, said, “The Nigerian Air Force will tomorrow, 19 July 2020, hold a Press Conference to give details on the outcome of its preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile which occurred on 14 July 2020.

“The event will take place at the Air Marshal MD Umar Blue Room at Headquarters NAF Abuja at 2pm. Accordingly, members of the press are please invited to cover the event.”

Arotile, a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, hailed from Iffe in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, and contributed to the efforts to rid the North-Central states of bandits and other criminal elements by flying combat missions.

The late 24-year-old was a squadron leader in Operation Gama Aiki in Minna, Niger State.