Breaking: Combatant Pilot, Tolulope Arotile, Buried, Amidst Flood Of Tears |The Source

By Akinwale Kasali

The remains of Nigeria’s first Female Helicopter Combatant Pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, were laid to rest in Abuja, Thursday as sympathizers could not hold back tears when her casket was lowered to the grave.

Flurry of tributes followed her Interment at the Military Cemetery in Abuja.

She was accorded full Military honours as the heirarchy of the Nigerian Military led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin paid tributes.

The remains were lowered into the grave at exactly 11.05 am.

The late Arotile died on July 14 in Kaduna, and was  buried in strict compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, Nigerian Air Force spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said.

She died from severe injuries following a vehicle accident at the NAF base in Kaduna.

The driver that hit her was reportedly a former secondary school classmate who, in the process of reversing his car greet her knocked her down.

President Muhammadu Buhari and other national leaders paid homage to the young military star after her demise and the Air Force promised she would be buried with full military honours.

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