By Kolawole Ojebisi
There is nothing as real as death. It puts meaning to life because it serves as the umpire who blows the final whistle at the end of the dicey game of life, thus signalling that life is nothing but an interlude between womb and tomb.
That interlude, like a flash in the pan, meaningful but short came to an end on Tuesday for the intrepid and patriotic Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
Arotile, the celebrated Nigerian Air Force’s first female combat helicopter pilot hailed from Iffe area in Ijumu Local Government of Kogi State. She was born in December 1995.
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Arotile attended the Air Force Primary and Secondary Schools between 2000-2011 in Kaduna. Her passion for the Air Force remained undiminished as she joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as a member of 64 Regular Course on September 2012.
Flying Officer Arotile was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer on 16 September, 2017 and held a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the Nigerian Defence Academy.
She was selected to train in South Africa following her performance during her initial flying training course at 401 Flying Training School Kaduna.
As of 15 October 2019, she had acquired a feat of 460 hours of flight within 14 months in helicopter.
Read also: How Tolulope Arotile Died In A Freak Accident
Arotile’s years of exertion and training culminated in celebration when she was decorated the first female fighter helicopter pilot the Nigerian Airforce in its 55 years of existence.
She held a commercial pilot license and also underwent tactical flying training on the Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter in Italy. Incidentally, she introduced the newly acquired Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopter to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, during the induction ceremony at Eagle Square in Abuja on 6 February 2020.
She became the first female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force on 15 October 2019, after completing her flying training in South Africa.
She was decorated by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs (Dame) Pauline Tallen and the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar in October, 2019.
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Barely a year, having been convinced of her competence, Tolulope’s became a household name when she was winged as Nigeria’s first ever female combat helicopter pilot.
She joined the Nigerian Air force out of passion.
In her words: “I joined the military simply out of passion for it. Being a military personnel has been a long time ambition, the carriage and what it stands for are simply exceptional”.
She displayed that fiery passion in her attitude to duties. Tolulope Arotile dared to walk and work in territories that send fear down the spines of men and make them cower around for safety.
In this part of the world, we don’t always associate courage with the womenfolk yet in her lifetime, she challenged convention and orthodoxy by choosing a profession whose main requirement, among others, is courage.
Read also: Shock! Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter Pilot, Arotile, Dies
While our brave soldiers operate from the ground, hiding in trenches to confront the threat of those enemies without compunction, who set the value of human life at naught; Tolu chose to operate from the cockpit firing fatal shots from air and shattering the cauldrons of insurgency into smithereens.
No doubt, considering her choice of profession — she knew what she wanted in life and went for it– she must have lived not just an eventful life but also a purposeful one.
Ironically, the heroine did not die while airborne but in a fatal road accident.
According to NAF, Tolulope Arotile died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.
Meanwhile, a flood tide of tributes have been pouring in for the fallen heroine on social media.
These are some of the confetti of tributes showered on Tolulope Arotife
From the Presidency:
“The President salutes 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 commiserates with the Nigerian Air Force, airmen, airwomen and all friends of the deceased, recalling her deft skills in manoeuvring combat helicopters, which he had physically witnessed with pride.
“The President sympathises with government and people of Kogi State on the loss.”
Sadique Abubakar Chief of Air Staff wrote: “It is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died on Tuesday, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.
“Until her death, Flying Officer Arotile, who was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, was the first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Service. During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, who hailed from Iffe in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
“The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, on behalf officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff of the NAF, commiserates with the family of late Flying Officer Arotile over this irreparable loss. We pray that the Almighty God grants her soul eternal
“Arotile dies in a road accident in Kaduna at the age of 24.
During her short but impactful stay in the Service, late Arotile, contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State.
“Arotile was decorated by Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff, less than one year after her commission as first Nigerian Female combatant.
“The lovely baby of the Nigerian Airforce and its first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has died in a road accident. This is ironically sad, after flying combat missions against bandits, she died in a road accident within the barracks! May her lovely soul RIP😥”
“Rest In Peace Tolulope Arotile. This life is too short. This is a big loss to the Nigerian AirForce.”
“Tolulope is Nigeria’s First Female Combat Helicopter pilot and Slayer of Bandits and Terrorists.”
Bode James:
“It’s sad to learn that that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna,a tragic accident happened which took away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and first female combat Helicopter Pilot,Tolulope Arotile.A great loss to our country.May her soul Rest In Peace.”
@ Seun:
It’s sad to learn that that few minutes after I passed the NAF Airforce Base Kaduna, a tragic accident happened which took away the life of one of Nigeria’s finest and first female combat Helicopter Pilot, Tolulope Arotile. A great loss to our country. May her soul Rest In Peace.
@ APC UK wrote:
“It is with deep regret we share the sad news that Flying officer, Tolulope Arotile passed on yesterday. A good heart has stopped breathing, a good soul ascended to heaven. We will never forget you. Rest in peace, Heroine.”
Oke Deji:
“RIP, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
Continue to fly among the stars, you lived a purposeful life, you achieved your dreams, you laid the path for other air combat women, your name is written in history. Air warrior!!! Mehn..I am close to tears 😢😢”
Tireni Adebayo mourns this way:
“Something is wrong with 2020” Nigerians cry out as first female combat helicopter pilot dies in tragic accident.
“Something doesn’t add up with 2020 no more, but we gonna be fine” popular female activist, Esther Ijewere writes following the sudden death of Nigerian Air Force’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile.
Popular journalist Femi Salau writes “This one got to me. I love Nigerian heroes, hate to see us lose one. At 24, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile enjoyed a reputation as Nigeria’s first ever female combat helicopter pilot, sadly for a short while.
“This young combat maven was only recently celebrated by Nigerians for her brave credentials. She was a master in the air, an expert in maneuvering the altitudes. A terror to the bad guys. Unfortunately, it was on land that she met her untimely death.We will tell our daughters about Tolulope Arotile. Her story will be told to generations. It is an inspiring story of a young lady who broke the glass ceiling and towered over her male peers.God rest her soul, comfort her family and indeed all Nigerians who mourn her demise.”
Ibikunle Daramola, Director of Public Relations and Information For NAF wrote: “Gone to soon like a candle in the air. She will be greatly missed by the entire Nigerian Air force Family”
