As Nigerians continue to mourn the tragic passing of Tolulope Arotile, the first Combat Helicopter pilot in Nigeria, the Nigerian Air Force has explained that an autopsy was not carried out on her body because the circumstances surrounding her death were clear.
Arotile, 25, died on July 14 after she was hit by a former classmate at the Nigeria Air Force base in Kaduna state. Many Nigerians had called for an investigation into her death. They also made demands for an autopsy to be carried out on he before she was laid to rest at the Military Cemetary in Abuja on Thursday, July 23.
However, speaking on Channels TV on Friday morning July 24, the Spokesman for the Nigeria Air Force NAF, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, said an autopsy was not done because the circumstances surrounding her death were clear. He added that her family members were not open to an autopsy as they wanted to move on from the unfortunate incident.
He added that those in the car that killed Arotile will be handed over to the police today July 24.
“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.”
