Fatal accide-e-nt!? Head injury? In a barrack where 10 kilometers per hour speed limit is strictly enforced?
A top military personnel queried in disbelief as death of first female combat helicopter pilot in Nigerian Airforce history, Tolulope Arotile, generates debates on social media and across the country.
The death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who at just 23 year-old became the first ever female combat helicopter pilot in Nigeria’s history, has stirred anger and pity among Nigerians who have demanded a probe into the circumstances that led to her death.
The Nigerian Navy issued a statement on Wednesday where it stated that the young officer was killed in a fatal accident within the airforce base Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria. She was neither the driver nor a passenger inside the ill-fated car.
Veteran lawyers and journalists in the country, however, flooded the social media to express shock and disbelief at the explanation given by the Airforce. They demanded a probe into the incident that led to her death.
The Yoruba social political group, Afenifere Renewal Group, also called for a Coroner Inquest into the death.
Steve Aborisade, is particularly not satisfied with explanation given by the Nigerian Air force about her death.
“I am concerned about details of her death though. Having a crash inside the base! I wish that could be properly explained,” he queried on Facebook.
Child development advocate and a convener of Vision2020, Fateemah Olonade, stated categorically that the accident and everything around it should be investigated.
Veteran journalist and award winning colomnist, Dare Babarinsa, tolled same line. He expressed sadness over Arotile’s death. “This is a very, very sad news! I commiserate with her parents and other loved ones!! May her soul find peace with the Lord,” he said.
His view was corroborated by Bayo Onanuga, a veteran journamist and Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “Terrible loss for our country and family,” he said.
Richard Akinola, an accomplished journalist, author and lawyer, also said in a post on Facebook; “Young, vibrant, with wonderful future.
Here was a young girl, who, according to the Nigeria Air Force in its tribute, led a couple of sorties against bandits and insurgents within her short period of active service. And that is part of the mystery of life. She didn’t die in chopper crash but died yesterday in a car crash. Tolulope fought war in the air and survived but succumbed to death in a car crash. What a sad and great loss!”
Seun Olagunju, a broadcast journalist, said in a response to Akinola’s post; “This is a very disheartening news. May her soul rest in peace. I hear a reversing car hit her and she died from the ensuing head injuries. May God console her family. A huge loss this is.”
Emeka Opara, another accomplished journalist and Public Relations strategist added; “This world chai, may her soul rest in peace.”
A Canada-based lecturer of Mass Communication, Sulaimon Osho, stated that Arotile’s death is a paradox of life.
“Sad paradox on her death in car crash…She died martyr…RIP…My condolences to the family and Nigeria Air Force,” Osho declared.
Frontline business journalist, Ayo Olesin, added; “A real tragedy…national loss even.”
Lekan Otufodunrin, another journalist, media career advocate and journalists’ trainer added; “Sad indeed.”
Going down memory lane, Abdul Mahmud said; “This is the tragic irony of life! Like you expressed, Obembe didn’t die in the plane crash, he died in an auto accident a few years later. Recall Kola, the first auto accident victim, following the opening of the Lagos -Ibadan expressway in 1978. He was pronounced dead by doctors at LUTH, and his remains were wheeled into the morgue, only for Kola to wake up a few hours later, throwing LUTH into pandemonium. Kola was later killed in an auto accident in Surulere in 1981. The mystery and irony of life! May the soul of the young compatriot rest in peace.”
Afenifere Wants Coroner Inquest Into Tolulope Arotile Death
Nigeria the demented chicken sucked one of its finest eggs yet again with the killing of flying officer Tolulope Arotile on the road in Kaduna on Tuesday, the group said in a statement by Yinka Odumakin, National Publicity Secretary
Afenifere, Afenifere Renewal Group.
A statement by the Nigerian Air Force told some truth that she died but spewed some untruth in saying that :
‘it is with great sorrow that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) regretfully announces the unfortunate demise of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile who died today, 14 July 2020, as a result of head injuries sustained from a road traffic accident at NAF Base Kaduna.’
It was only eyewitness accounts that unofficially released that it was a colleague of hers who reversed his car to knock her down on the road.
The statement added that’ ‘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 hails 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. ‘
Unofficial accounts say she just returned from a combat operation before she was knocked down to death.
We therefore do not accept that her death was an accident until the report of a coroner says how she died and how a supposed attempt to stop and greet could come with a death impact.
We say this against what is known of the infiltration of the forces by sympathizers and agents of Boko Haram.
We recall the report years back of such agents revealing the routes and timing of movements of our troops to Boko Haram who ambushed them.
The inquiry shouid look into all the links of the colleague who killed her and we must know the identity.
