By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has revealed why no autopsy was conducted on the body of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
The New Diplomat had reported how Niggeri, Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, was buried on Thursday, July 23 at National Military Cemetery, Abuja, with full military honours, amidst tears.
NAF has since claimed that she died in a freak accident.
In the preliminary findings released by the NAF it said the late flying officer died from blunt force trauma resulting from being struck by a vehicle.
The Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, Ibikunle Daramola said that no autopsy was conducted because the circumstances leading to her death were clear.
He added that Arotile’s grief-striken family did not demand an autopsy as it wanted to quickly move on from the unfortunate incident.
Daramola disclosed this on Channels Television‘s popular ‘Sunrise Daily’ programme on Friday.
The NAF Spokesman, who reiterated NAF’s initial position on Arotile’s death said, “On the issue of autopsy or otherwise that would have been initiated by the family but based on discussions with them and the fact that witnesses were there at the time she was taken to the Nigerian Air Force hospital in Kaduna, there were no doubts as to the cause of death which was head injury as a result of blunt force trauma caused by the vehicle that hit her from the rear.
“So, in consultation with her family, her father, Akintunde Arotile, said they wanted closure on this matter and that he was comfortable with the Nigerian Air Force’s investigation which of course is also being transferred to the police.
“Autopsy was not done because it wasn’t requested, the cause of death was already known based on the investigation and how she was taken to the hospital and the confirmation was made. There were no doubts in that regard and there was no request from the family for that specifically. No autopsy was done.”
