The House of Representatives has honoured the Nigerian Air Force’ first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, who died last week.
The NAF had earlier disclosed that Arotile died on Tuesday last week at the age of 24 when she was inadvertently hit by the reversing vehicle of an excited former Air Force Secondary School classmate while trying to greet her.
At the plenary on Tuesday, the House observed a minute silence in honour of Arotile, following the adoption of a motion moved by Taiwo Oluga.
After the minute of silence, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, said, “That was indeed a painful loss to the country.”
Moving the motion, Oluga called for a thorough investigation of Arotile’s death especially the circumstances surrounding the cause.
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The lawmaker expressed dismay over how Arotile was said to have died, describing it as “a waste of a life that was a shining light to Nigerians.”
Oluga noted that the late pilot was determined, competent, level-headed and a national hero. She called on the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to be thorough in their investigation.
Oluga also called for the immortalisation of Arotile by renaming a befitting Air Force structure in her name. She also called for her posthumous promotion to the next rank.
