Masked gunmen have abducted Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd.), in the Ajah area of Lagos State, The PUNCH can confirm.

Smith is a cousin to a former Inspector-General of Police and current Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Musiliu Smith.

The PUNCH learnt that the retired general, who is currently the Chairman of Double Wealth Ventures Limited – a dredging and engineering firm – was supervising work on a site in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Monday when masked gunmen invaded the place and shot sporadically.

The gunmen were said to have whisked the retired general away in a waiting speedboat and sped away.

According to an SOS voice note shared by his driver, Corporal Odiji, the retired AVM engaged in a struggle with the gunmen before he was subdued.

Odiji stated, “This is an emergency. I am Corporal Odiji attached to Air Vice Marshal Smith. They just abducted him from the site where we were working. Some gunmen who were wearing masks just came and snatched my boss now. They shot everywhere. I was near where I was fixing my boss’ vehicle.

“As I was coming, I saw them leaving in a boat but I wasn’t armed so I just ran to the site and I saw his glasses and where he struggled with them. Please pass this information. It is an emergency.”

When contacted on the telephone, the Spokesman for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, promised to make inquiries and give a detailed response in due course.

The Spokesman for the Air Force, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, also promised to make inquiries and provide information on the matter later.

AVM Smith was commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force as a Pilot Officer in 1979 and had a highly successful military officer that combined soldering with serious academic pursuit.

He holds BSc, MSc, MBA and PhD degrees. He is an Alumnus of Harvard University and fellow of many professional bodies including the Institute of Management, Nigeria.

Smith attended several military courses both locally and overseas which include flying and engineering. He was awarded numerous military decorations such as Distinguished Service Star, Pass Staff College (Dagger) and Fellow of the prestigious National Defence College.

The notable appointments he held include Commanding Officer Air Engineering Wing, Sierra Leone/Liberia; Commander, Nigerian Air Force Station, Calabar; Deputy Director, Air Engineering, Nigeria Air Force Headquarters, Abuja, Commander 333 Logistics Group, Kaduna, Commander, 401 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Ikeja; Chief of Logistics, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, Abuja and Chief of Defence Communications, Defence Headquarters, Abuja.

Smith, who was a guest on The PUNCH Roundtable recently, had advocated for the use of drones in security surveillance and military offensives in the country to curb the use of military jets.

proeast:
But I thought afonjas were claiming that SW was the safest place in the world so Igbos should bring their investments there and leave our homeland. Now even prominent people are not safe in Lagos talk more other SW states.

I keep saying it, SE remains the safest region in this "war torn" country.

Akinsete19:
When they are ready, we will divide the useless country

DubaiLandLord2:
I prefer a total restructure, whereby the 6 geopolitical zones become semi autonomous regions.

The FCT should be in charge of only defense, foreign affairs and monetary policy.

DubaiLandLord2:
I prefer a total restructure, whereby the 6 geopolitical zones become semi autonomous regions.

The FCT should be in charge of only defense, foreign affairs and monetary policy.

Akinsete19:
and you think the Northern will agree(restructuring of Nigeria) ?

Maxymilliano:
How can a whole Air Vice Marshall, which is equivalent to a Major General be kidnapped ?

This simply means nobody is safe in the country again

ogododo:
Naija don red retired AVM kidnapped

SarkinYarki:


What is in place to stop a retired AVM from being kidnapped? Absolutely nothing