…As Fani-Kayode, Afenifere Blow Hot
By Kolawole Ojebisi
The late Tolulope Arotile, first female combat helicopter pilot, of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was reportedly hit by an unnamed former classmate who “has no driver’s licence”.
Emerging details on the circumstance that led to Arotile’s death revealed the classmate is a civilian who has no valid driving credentials, a military source told Channels TV, Saturday.
The source reportedly said the driver, accompanied by his friends, visited his relatives at the NAF base and decided to drop off the late pilot whom he spotted on the road inside the base.
Arotile was knocked down in the process of reversing the car, the source said.
The source added that the driver and other occupants of the car have been taken into custody by NAF.
According to NAF, Arotile will be buried on July 23 in Abuja with full military honours.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air force has said details of its preliminary investigation into the death of the young flying officer will be released on Sunday, July 19.
The NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, stated this on Saturday in a release titled, ‘Preliminary Investigation Report on the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile,’ adding that it would not be done in camera as members of the press were invited.
“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.”
It was gathered that Arotile, 25, died in the same month of July when she was named the personality of the month on NAF Official 2020 Calendar alongside Kafayat Sanni winged as the first female fighter pilot.
The New Diplomat had reported how Arotile was, according to NAF, “inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force secondary school classmate while trying to greet her,” at the Kaduna NAF base.
While there has been an outpouring of tributes for the valiant flying officers, her sudden and curious death had provoked public outcry form many people who believe there is something suspicious about her death.
Damilola Adegboye, Arotile’s immediate elder sister, who was the person who saw her alive last in her family, had demanded a probe into her death.
Also, Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, had lent its voice to the growing number of people and associations calling for a probe into the circumstances surrounding her death.
With the growing number of prominent people demanding probe into Arotile’s death, NAF announced on Friday that it had commenced investigation into her death and two persons were being held in connection with her death.
NAF added that it would keep the public informed about the investigation.
Meawhile, former Aviation Minister, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode who described Arotile’s death as sad and tragic, said the government must provide answers on how she died, claiming she was murdered, even though there is no fact to substantiate the claim yet.
According to Fani-Kayode, “The death of the highly celebrated 23 year old helicopter pilot, Tolu Arotile, is sad & tragic. She was courageous & formidable in battle, doing much harm to Boko Haram.
“The idea that she was killed by being knocked down on the Airforce Base by her best friends car is nonsensical. Who is this best friend and what is his/her name?”
Fani-Kayode added: “I suspect that Tolu was murdered and the truth is bring covered up. I urge the Chief of Air Staff to investigate this matter thoroughly. So much is being read into it and it does not augur well for the reputation of the Air Force
“Justice must be done. May Tolu’s soul rest in peace and may the Lord comfort her parents and family.”
