A retired Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and cousin to former Inspector-General of Police, Musiliy Smith, Sikiru was on Monday kidnapped by armed men in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
Details were sketchy, but media reports said the commando-style abduction by masked men was accompanied by sporadic shooting that sent many persons scampering for cover.
Sikiru Smith was whisked away in a waiting speedboat.
An SOS voice note shared by Smith’s driver, Corporal Odiji, stated that the retired AVM engaged in a struggle with the gunmen before he was subdued.
His driver 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.”
Comments from spokesmen of the Police and Air Force were still being awaited.