Nigeria’s First Female Helicopter Combat Pilot, Arotile, Buried In Abuja

Nigeria’s First Female Helicopter Combat Pilot, Arotile, Buried In Abuja

Nigeria’s first female helicopter combat pilot, Tolulope Arotile, has been buried at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

Arotile, who died on July 14 in Kaduna, is being buried in strict compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said.

She died from severe injuries following a road traffic accident at the NAF base in Kaduna, the Air Force has said.

Eight months before her death, she had been commissioned as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot.

The Thursday burial was restricted to a few guests, due to the coronavirus pandemic and restrictions put in place to stem the spread of the virus.

Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, were also sighted at the ceremony.

Uninvited guests including unaccredited journalists were politely turned back at the entrance to the cemetery as only vehicles of senior officers and immediate family members of the deceased are allowed to drive in.

Guests included Arotile’s friends, family, and colleagues.