By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola has said the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile ,the first female combat helicopter pilot of the NAF was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and significant bleeding resulting from being struck by the vehicle.
This was due to the injury inflicted on her by the traffic motor accident along Nigerian Air Force Base Kaduna.
Air Commodore Ibikunle stated this while addressing journalists in Abuja about the circumstances that led to the death of the young pilot officer.
He said, NAF is poised in bringing to the public, the actual causes that led to the unfortunate death of the first female NAF pilot after the preliminary investigation has been concluded on the matter.
He explained that, it became necessary to clear some conspiracy theories ,falsehoods and the likes surrounding the death of flying officer Tolulope Arotile the first female combat helicopter pilot of the NAF,whose sad event took place on the 14th July, 2020.
He said “because of the peculiar circumstances of the incident that led to her death, a rash of falsehoods, innuendos, conspiracy theories and the likes have been propagated in the public space, especially on Social Media.
“The NAF sincerely hopes that the findings of the just-concluded preliminaries investigation into this unfortunate and painful incident will address the misinformed issues raised in the Social Media on the tragedy.
“While it would have been ideal for the entire investigation to be concluded before details on the incident are released, the NAF, in sensitivity to public concerns occasioned by the spread of false information, appreciates the imperative to provide more clarity at this very difficult moment.
“Note that the details being revealed today have already been communicated to the Arotile Family, who ideally should be allowed to mourn their daughter and sister in peace, but for the unfortunate nature of the sad occurrence.” he explained.
According to Ibikunle, the preliminary investigation has been concluded and it was necessary to bring the details of the findings to the public.
“The Late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, a Squadron Pilot at the 405 Helicopter Combat Training Group (405 HCTG) Enugu, attached to the Air Component of Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, having recently completed her Promotion Examinations, was in Kaduna awaiting deployment for her next assignment.
“During this period, she stayed with her sister, Mrs Damilola Adegboye, at Sabo Area in Kaduna, visiting the NAF Base whenever necessary.
“On 14 July 2020 at about 10.55am, Late Flying Officer Arotile received a phone call from her colleague, Flying Officer Perry Karimo, a fellow helicopter pilot from the 405 HCTG, who wanted to discuss arrangements for their return to Enugu, requesting that she comes to the Base so that they could work out the modalities.
“Subsequently, at about 10.58am, the Late Arotile placed a call through to Squadron Leader Diepiriye Batubo, the Group Operations Officer (GOO) of 405 HCTG, who was in Minna at the time, to clarify issues regarding her deployment. It must be highlighted that the call FROM Flying Officer Karimo as well as the one TO the Squadron Leader Batubo both took place before 11.00am, over 5 hours before the incident which led to her death.
“Flying Officer Arotile was later conveyed from Sabo to the NAF Base Kaduna by her sister, Mrs Adegboye, where the Deceased dropped her phone for charging at a house in the Instructor Pilots’ Quarters belonging to Squadron Leader Alfa Ekele.
“Her elder sister later dropped her off at the Base Mammy Market at about 4.00pm, where she proceeded to photocopy and laminate some documents.
“It was while she was returning from the Mammy Market at about 4.30pm that 3 of her former schoolmates at the Air Force Secondary School (now Air Force Comprehensive School) Kaduna; Mr Nehemiah Adejoh, Mr Igbekele Folorunsho and Mr Festus Gbayegun, drove past her in a Kia Sorento SUV, with Registration Number AZ 478 MKA.
“It is noteworthy that Messrs Adejoh, Folorunsho and Gbayegun are all civilians who live outside NAF Base Kaduna, but were on their way to visit one Mrs Chioma Ugwu, wife of Squadron Leader Chukwuemeka Ugwu, who lives at Ekagbo Quarters on the Base.
“Upon recognising their schoolmate, Arotile, after passing her, Mr Adejoh, who was driving, reversed the vehicle, ostensibly in an attempt to quickly meet up with the Deceased, who was walking in the opposite direction. In the process, the vehicle struck Flying Officer Arotile from the rear, knocking her down with significant force and causing her to hit her head on the pavement.
“The vehicle then ran over parts of her body as it veered off the road beyond the kerb and onto the pavement, causing her further injuries.
He further said, Arotile was subsequently rushed to the 461 NAF Hospital Kaduna for treatment, where she was confirmed dead by the Doctor as a result of injuries sustained on her head due to the accident.
He however said, the trio of Messrs Nehemiah Adejoh, Igbekele Folorunsho and Festus Gbayegun were immediately detained at the Air Provost Wing, 453 Base Services Group Kaduna as investigations began.
He said, Toxicology Tests was administered on the trio at the 461 NAF Hospital but no traces of alcohol or psychotropic substances found in their systems.
According to the findings, it was confirmed that the driver of the vehicle, Mr Nehemiah Adejo, did not have a valid driver’s license.
Air Commodore ibikunle however said, after the preliminary investigation has been concluded,the full investigation will be conducted by the investigation authority (the Police) to ascertain the appropriate sanctions to be proffered on the suspects in accordance with the laws of the land.
He reiterated that, NAF being a highly professional and disciplined organization, will not join issues with any individuals or groups regarding the spurious allegations of ‘foul play’ espoused in some quarters.
“Suffice it to say that Flying Officer Arotile was a pride of the NAF in whom the Service had invested massively in terms of resources, time and energy.
“It is ludicrous for anyone to even remotely insinuate malevolent intent on the part of the Service against one of its most prized assets.”
He therefore regretted why some mischief makers have chosen to politicise the death of Arotile and cautioned them to desist from act to give the family and the NAF to mourn their irreparable loss.
