The immediate past Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has condemned the alleged violent attack and abduction of his cousin, Dr. Pedro Obaseki, who was reportedly seized at gunpoint by armed thugs said to be acting under instructions from the palace of the Oba of Benin.
Dr. Pedro Obaseki, a former Managing Director of DAAR Communications and a renowned journalist, was allegedly attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he was subjected to physical assault, intimidation and torture before being forcefully taken to the palace.
A viral video circulating on social media shows armed thugs taking the brutalised Dr. Pedro, who was already stripped of his clothing, to the palace, where they were ceremoniously received by some palace chiefs. Sources said the thugs were awaiting further instructions from the Oba of Benin before Dr. Pedro Obaseki would be released.
Reacting to the development in a statement on Sunday, Obaseki described the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and a reckless disregard for the rule of law.
He said, “I strongly condemn the violent attack, maiming, and abduction of my cousin, Dr. Pedro Obaseki, by armed thugs who are said to be acting under instructions of the palace of the Oba of Benin.”
The former governor expressed deep disappointment over the alleged involvement of the palace in what he described as a barbaric, shameful and ignoble act.
“I am surprised that our monarch would stoop so low and allow his hands to be soiled in such an ignoble act. This is not only embarrassing but deeply troubling,” he said.
He further called on security agencies to act decisively, saying, “I call on security agencies to immediately investigate this matter thoroughly and transparently, identify those responsible for this barbaric act, and ensure they are held accountable in accordance with the law. A situation where thugs and non-state actors appear to freely take the law into their own hands on behalf of high-profile individuals and those in positions of authority can only result in one outcome: a degeneration into a state of anarchy, which will do no one any good.”
Obaseki also appealed to the wider public, saying, “I urge human rights organizations, civil society groups, and all well-meaning Nigerians to lend their voices and speak out firmly against this injustice and gross violation of human rights.”
In a related account of the incident, dozens of angry youths were reported to have assaulted and stripped Dr. Pedro Obaseki over alleged disrespectful remarks against the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II. The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, while he was playing football at the Uwa Primary School field along Igbesamwan Street.
Viral footage showed the youths dragging him from the field and taking him to the Oba’s Palace. When confronted, the youths reportedly labelled him an “oghioba,” meaning an enemy of the Oba, insisting that their actions were based on comments he allegedly made in the United Kingdom which they considered insulting to the monarch.
On arrival at the palace, the youths informed palace chiefs and guards that they had brought Obaseki to answer for allegedly disrespecting the Oba. Palace chiefs were said to have intervened promptly.
One of the chiefs who addressed the agitated youths reportedly informed them that the Oba was at Holy Arousa Church attending a thanksgiving service marking the end of the annual Igue Festival. The chief, whose identity could not be confirmed, cautioned against violence, saying, “We don’t want any disturbance. If anyone considers himself an enemy of the Oba, leave him, and time will reveal the outcome.”
The video, however, showed palace chiefs taking custody of Dr. Pedro Obaseki from the youths.
Reacting separately, a Benin-based human rights activist, Kola Edokpayi, condemned the attack in a Facebook post, describing it as a violation of Dr. Pedro Obaseki’s fundamental rights. He emphasised that the palace would never endorse any act that violates human rights.
