Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has sent his condolences to the family of the country’s first-ever female combat helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile, who died on Tuesday following a road accident.
Arotile suffered head injuries sustained in the accident in Kaduna, according to the Nigeria Air Force (NAF).
“President Muhammadu Buhari received with deep pain the passing of Flying Officer, Tolulope Arotile, condoling with the family on loss of such a promising officer, whose short stay on earth impacted greatly on the nation, especially in peace and security,” Buhari’s spokesman Garba Shehu tweeted.
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“The President sympathises with government and people of Kogi State on the loss. President Buhari prays that the Almighty God will receive the soul of the departed, and comfort the family she left behind,” he added.
Arotile was commissioned as an officer of the NAF in 2017 and became a popular figure after the NAF’s recognition for her passion in a male-dominated industry.
According to the NAF, during Arotile’s “short but impactful stay”, she flew several combat missions significantly contributing to the efforts to rid the north central states of armed bandits and other criminal elements.
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