Damilola Adegboye, the immediate elder sister of the late first female combat helicopter pilot in Nigeria’s history, Tolulope Arotile, has urged the Nigerian Air Force to probe her death.
Mrs Adegboye told reporters on Thursday that the family is devastated by the untimely death wondering how the reverse of a vehicle could kill a person in such manner.
Arotile died on Tuesday after suffering head injuries from being hit by a car on reverse at NAF Base in Kaduna State.
Adegboye said, “We in the family are not convinced that Tolu can just die like that in a freak accident. I know that the military is well trained in the art of investigation, we want them to carry out a thorough investigation that can convince us beyond all doubts that the incident that led to her death was real.”
She added: “A call came into her phone which she picked but from the way they spoke, I knew the caller must be a senior officer calling her to come to Airforce base. She felt reluctant and I offered to drop her off.
“One hour later, I read online that something serious had happened to her. I couldn’t believe that somebody I just dropped off is dead.”
Arotile’s mother said she was a special child who loved to pray and fast.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the state government to immortalise her.
Lawmaker representing Ijumu Constituency Kilani Olumo made the call in a motion during plenary on Thursday.
Olumo said the deceased pilot had contributed her quota to the ongoing fight against insecurity in the country.
He noted that her death is painful and a great loss to the state, adding that immortalising her is a reward for her hard work and dedication to the protection of the nation’s territorial integrity.
Lawmaker representing Lokoja One Constituency Umar Tenimu seconded the motion.
