KOGI State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has described the death of Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile as shocking, devastating and a national tragedy.
Flying Officer Arotile died in a car accident on Tuesday in Kaduna she was Nigeria’s first-ever Combat Helicopter Pilot in the history of the Nigerian Airforce.
In a condolence message signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, Bello described Arotile as not only a combat pilot but a fantastic Aviator who reached the sky in her professional calling at a very tender age of 23.
”It was with great sorrow and shock that I received the news about the passing of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the first female combat Helicopter Pilot in the history of the Nigerian Airforce. Late Flying Officer Arotile brought the country to a standstill on the 15th of October 2019 when she was decorated as the first female combat Helicopter Pilot.
“This was a huge honour to her family and state, the nation, and the entire women in the country and beyond. As a trained military aviator, with a blend of professionalism and patriotism, Arotile’s engagement in air-to-ground combat in rooting out armed bandits and other criminal elements in the country, particularly in the North Central region was a sacrifice that cannot be forgotten” the Governor said.
“We are devastated by the tragic death of this young promising lady who took bravery to the next level, demystified prejudicial stereotype and flew her parents, state and nation high in honour and professionalism.” He added.
While extolling the virtue of the: late young Flying Officer, Bello stated “at the age of 23, late Arotile has woven her own story into the Nigerian Folklore as a patriot who died in defence of her nation.
“On behalf of the state, I commiserate with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss and I pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal rest, She will be sorely missed” the governor added.
Also, the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawole said he received with grief the shocking and sudden untimely demise of the First Nigeria Female Helicopter Pilot of the Nigeria Air Force, Flying Officer Arotile Tolulope which occurred yesterday in a car accident in NAF Base Kaduna.
He said it is devastating, sad and painful to lose a young combat helicopter pilot that was commissioned barely three years ago in the Nigerian Air Force, describing her death at this time as a big blow to the fight against insurgent in the country.
He described the late Flying Officer Arotile Tolulope as one of the young officers that have made Kogi State proud in the recent time, hence her untimely demise will linger in our minds forever.
He sympathized and condoled with the immediate family of Arotile Tolulope of Ikoyi Community in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Chief of Air Staff and the leadership of Nigerian Air Force, Government and people of Kogi State, stressing that she will be greatly missed.
He said it is disheartening and painful to lose such a great mind that devoted all her life to the service of protecting the territorial integrity of the nation, noting that her sudden demise has created a great vacuum that will be hard to fill.
He noted that death is an expected end of every mortal and enjoined her family to take solace in the words of God which say for everything under the sun there is a time; a time to be born, and a time to die, urging the Nigerian Air Force to immortalise her gallantry contributions to the fight of insurgency in the country.
Rt. Hon. Prince Matthew Kolawole, on behalf of the 7th Assembly, management and staff of the Kogi State House of Assembly wish to commiserate with her immediate family, praying that God will grant us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
