Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has paid tributes to Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot the late Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.
The late pilot who was a native of Kogi State died at age 25.
Arotile was by the road side at Kawo area of Kaduna when a former secondary school classmate sighted her and applied the brake.
The ex-schoolmate, a female, was reversing her vehicle to enable her properly greet Arotile when she mistakenly knocked her down.
Arotile who was decorated last October as Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot died on Tuesday from the head injury she sustained from the accident.
In a tweet on Thursday, Atiku said Ms Arotile was an inspiration and that the history she made would remain.
“Tolulope Arotile was an inspiration. She shattered the ceiling, and will always be our number 1,” he wrote.
“May she rest in the bosom of the Lord. And may the Almighty God grant the Arotile family and all her loved ones the comfort to bear this loss.”
