(Abuja)
As Nigerians mourn the death of the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Airfore, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, former Vice-president Atiku Abubakar has added his voice.
In his tweeter, Atiku described the 24-year-old pilot as an inspiration.
He noted that Arotile”shattered the ceiling and will always be our number one, may her soul rest in the bosom of the lord, and may the Almighty God grant the Arotile family and all her loved ones the heart to bear the loss.”
Duaglobalnews recalls that Tolulope who was commissioned into the Nigerian Airforce September 2017, died on July 14, 2020 after sustaining a fatal head injury from an auto crash in Kaduna state.
In Lokoja, the capital of kogi state where the late pilot hailed from, the atmosphere remains sober as many sympathisers were seen discussing the tragic event.
” It is indeed a very sad news, especially for us in kogi state. Tolu was our hope in the fight against Boko-Haram and their cohorts as they unleash mayhem on innocent members of the society, especially in the north east of the company.
“But now, the dream is dashed due to her death,” Mrs Beatrice Olorunmaiye, a mother of four said.
“To me, I am yet to come to terms with the demise of Flying Officer Tolu. I witnessed her commissioning in Kaduna where she became the toast of all the dignitaries that attended the colourful graduation ceremony.
“To learn that this young, energetic, resourceful and tactical military pilot just died in an avoidable circumstance is to say the lrast, most unfortunate,” Isah Mohammed, a retired sergeant in the Nigerian army said.
Others prayed for the repose soul of the deceased and asked God to give the military, the nation and her family, the fortitude to bear the irreparable Ioss.
The Governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Onogwu, described the pilot’s death as a national disaster.
The kogi state House of Assembly, during its session held in honour of the deceased, called on the state government to immortalise the name of Tolulope Arotile.
This it said became necessary in view of her commendable contributions toward the fight against criminal the insurgents in the country, within her brief service to the nation.
