Air Vice Marshal Smith (retd)

Kidnappers have released Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith (retd.), who was abducted on Monday in the Ajah area of Lagos State, The PUNCH has learnt.

It was learnt that the retired General was released in the early hours of Saturday.

The spokesman for the Police in Lagos State, Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the development to The PUNCH.

“I can confirm that he has been released,” he said.

The PUNCH had reported that Smith, 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 into the air to scare away people.

The gunmen were said to have whisked him away in a waiting speedboat, after which they sped off towards the Ikorodu area of the state.

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.

In the one minute and four seconds audio, the corporal said: “Good evening house. Please, this is an emergency. I am Cpl. Odiji, attached to AVM Smith. Oga was just moved from the site we were working. Some gunmen wearing masks just came and pulled him out of the site.

“They shot everywhere and took him away. I was nearby where he asked me to fix his vehicle. I am his driver. As I was coming back, I saw them where they went on a boat through the water.

“I was not armed. So, I ran to the site and found Oga’s glasses and where he struggled with them before they took him off.

“Please, somebody should pass the message. They went from Blenco area in Ajah and sailed towards Ikorodu area on water.’’

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

credit: punch