The Nigerian Air Force said no
autopsy was carried out on Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile because the family
of the deceased was satisfied with the explanation on what led to her death.
According to the air force,
Arotile, who was Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, died at the
NAF base, Kaduna, after being hit by a car driven by her former classmate with
two others on board.
However, NAF added that the
circumstances surrounding her death were clear and no autopsy was needed or
demanded by the family.
Daramola said this on Channels
Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Friday.
He said, “On the issue of autopsy
or otherwise that would have been initiated by the family but based on discussions
with them and the fact that witnesses were there at the time she was taken to
the Nigerian Air Force hospital in Kaduna, there were no doubts as to the cause
of death which was head injury as a result of blunt force trauma caused by the
vehicle hitting her from the rear.
“So, in consultation with her
family, her father, Akintunde Arotile, said they wanted closure on this matter
and that he was comfortable with the Nigerian Air Force’s investigation which
of course is also being transferred to the police.
“Autopsy was not done because it
wasn’t requested, the cause of death was already known based on the
investigation and how she was taken to the hospital and the confirmation was
made. There were no doubts in that regard and there was no request from the
family for that specifically. No autopsy was done.”
Daramola further stated that the
Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps were invited to
investigate the incident.
He said, “First of all, we
carried out a preliminary investigation to determine those who were involved,
their level of involvement, interviewed witnesses and looked at the scene. That
was our own first phase of investigation because it happened on the base.
“The air force has its own air
police directorate where we have forensic and K9 investigators many of whom are
trained in and out of the country. Some of them also trained in police
institutions and there is a lot of collaboration between the Nigerian Air Force
Air Police Wing and the Nigeria Police. Immediately it occurred, we involved
the police.”
The spokesman noted that the
person that drove the car, Nehemiah Adejoh, which knocked down Arotile was not
36 but 24 and was a junior of the deceased in the Nigerian Air Force Secondary
School.
Daramola said the case would be
handed over to the police today.
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