NAF Reveals Burial Details of Late Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile

The remains of late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF’s) first female combat helicopter pilot will be buried in Abuja on 23 July 2020.

Naija News reports that Tolulope Arotile had died on 14 July 2020.

In a statement on Friday, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Director, NAF Public Relations and Information, disclosed that the late Arotile will be laid to rest with full military honours at the National Military Cemetery.

The statement also revealed that the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar received some members of the Federal Executive Council as well as members of the National Assembly at NAF Headquarters at various times on Thursday, 16 July 2020, to condole with him over the unfortunate demise of Tolulope Arotile.

Daramola said, “Among them were; the Hon Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, as well as the Hon Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

“The joint delegation from the upper and lower houses of the National Assembly, comprising 20 members, was led by the Chairman Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Bala Ibn-Na’Allah, and the Chairman House Committee on the Air Force, Honourable Shehu Koko”.

Speaking during her visit, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, expressed shock over the flying officers’ death.

She noted that the death of the young pilot would not be in vain as she would forever be remembered for her gallantry and contributions towards ensuring a secured Nigeria.