Combat Pilot’s Death: Group Alleges Foul Play, Calls For Full Inquiry | The Source Magazine

By Akinwale Kasali

The death of 24-Year Old female  Fighter Pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile is  generating a lot of controversy.

A Yoruba Group says it suspects foul play

The Pan Yoruba group, Apapo O’odua Koya, (AOKOYA) made up of 18 Yoruba groups, has alleged that the late Nigeria’s First Combatant  Helicopter Pilot, Arotile, may have been deliberately killed.

The late NAF Combatant Pilot was, according to a statement by NAF, inadvertently killed in a vehicle accident within the Kaduna Airforce Base by a classmate of hers in the Secondary School. The classmate, excited on seeing her, was reversing his car to greet her, when he inadvertently knocked her down. He died of head injuries.

Her death has devastated Nigerians, and condolences and tributes have been like claps of thunder – From President Buhari, First Lady Aisha, Senate President, Governors. Her family is inconsolable. Her father, an Engineer, said in tears, “I spoke to my daughter by 1.00pm, by 5.00pm I was told she was in the mortuary.

But, AOKOYA,  in a statement, on Wednesday, asked the international community to investigate her death. The group said the least it expects is an independent inquiry.

According to the group: “We have very strong reasons to assume that Tolulope Arotile was murdered. We are aware she had altercations with top military commanders before her death and some hated her to a hilt for her brilliance and exploit against Boko Haram and bandits”.

The group did not mention which Commander she had a problem with, and when.

AOKOYA said in the statement signed by its officials, Captain Abigo Oritsebugbemi (rtd) and its Middle Belt Coordinator, Akeem Meduna, that the story that Arotile died in a motor accident inside the Airforce base is a cock and bull story.

“We want full investigation into this suspicious death. We find it difficult to believe the story based on the information at our disposal.

“How could she have died in a traffic accident right inside the Airforce base in Kaduna?. We have made preliminary findings and all officers who spoke to us could not understand how that could have happened.

“One officer, her colleague in Kaduna, specifically said the case of murder was the strongest motive”, AOKOYA said.

At the time of her death, she was 24, and one of the youngest fighter pilots in the world. She was Nigeria’s First in the female category.

“There must be an independent enquiry for anyone to be convinced Tolulope Arotile was not murdered. Tolu was exceptional and her brilliance was a threat to the establishment.” AOKOYA said.

The group recalled that a Yoruba Chief of Airforce, Shittu Alao,  was murdered in  1969s   adding that Dr Ademola  Adetokunbo who carried out the autopsy was also murdered.

The Commandant of Nigerian Naval School, Mrs J.O Ogundana was murdered few months ago. Her body was mutilated and packed in a ‘Ghana Must Go’ bag.

In the same manner, Dr Yomi Oniororo a 29 year old officer of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, (NIA) was murdered in Abuja, 2002 .His body was mutilated.

Dare, a senior police officer investigating the murder of Dele Giwa was also assassinated. His senior brother is the popular journalist, Prof Olatunji Dare.

“We are taking records. At the last count, some 413 Yoruba junior and senior Yoruba officers have been murdered   Many of them were killed in a ‘neat job’ that looked like an accident

Last year Tolulope completed her training in South Africa and was winged as a combat helicopter pilot.

AOKOYA said it has been reliably informed how Arotile led major onslaught against bandits and armed Islamic fundamentalist. Her sorties led to deaths of several militants and bandits.

“We have been informed that their agents and supporters marked her, and only succeeded in setting a trap for her”, AOKOYA said.

The Group added that in her last operation in the North Central States tagged “Operation GAMA AIKI”in Minna, Niger State where despite rockets fired at her, she succeeded in killing many bandits and fundamentalist.

“The Nigerian authorities are shedding crocodile tears on the murder of Arotile. We promise his murderers that the several cases of murder of Yoruba officers in the Army, Navy or Airforce are being compiled and at the right time, when Yoruba Nation emerges, the murderers will face the full weight of the law.

Earlier, Thursday, 16th July, 2020, the Northern Governors Forum expressed shock over the sudden and tragic death of  Arotile.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Macham Makut described the late Tolulope as a promising officer, who had demonstrated high sense of loyalty, patriotism and diligence in her service to Nigeria particularly in maintaining peace and security.

Lalong said the testimony of the officer’s bravery in the field of combat, especially towards stopping bandits and terrorists from inflicting more harm on Nigerians will remain indelible in the history of the Nigerian Airforce as well as in the minds of Nigerians.

The name of the person who killed her in the accident, has not yet been made public.