The Nigerian Air Force says it will today (Sunday), reveal details of the findings from its preliminary investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
Arotile, Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot died on Tuesday as a result of head injuries sustained in a road traffic accident at the NAF base in Kaduna State.
NAF had explained after the incident that Arotile’s former classmate “inadvertently hit her” when while reversing the vehicle in a bid to greet her.
The Air Force said the classmate and another occupant of the vehicle had been detained and investigation was ongoing.
Arotile would be buried Thursday, July 23, at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja , with full military honours.
A statement issued by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, on Saturday night, said preliminary findings from the investigation will be made public on Sunday.
The statement said, “The Nigerian Air Force will tomorrow (Sunday), 19 July 2020, hold a Press Conference to give details on the outcome of its preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile which occurred on 14 July 2020
“The event will take place at the Air Marshal MD Umar Blue Room at Headquarters NAF Abuja at 2pm. Accordingly, members of the press are please invited to cover the event.”
Arotile, a member of the Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course 64, hailed from Iffe in the Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, and contributed to the efforts to rid the North-Central states of bandits and other criminal elements by flying combat missions.
The late 24-year-old was a squadron leader in Operation Gama Aiki in Minna, Niger State.
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