Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Benin City, Edo State — Former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has issued a strong condemnation of the violent abduction and assault of his cousin, Dr. Pedro Obaseki, decrying the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and alleging that armed assailants acted under instructions linked to the Oba of Benin’s palace, in what critics are calling a shocking affront to the rule of law.
The attack occurred on Sunday, 28 December 2025, at Uwa Primary School in Benin City, where Dr. Pedro — a respected journalist and former Managing Director of DAAR Communications — had gone to play football with friends when he was reportedly ambushed at gunpoint, beaten, stripped and forcefully taken away. Eyewitness accounts and video footage widely circulated on social media show him being dragged through public streets and later brought to the gates of the Oba’s palace in a visibly distressed and humiliating state.
In an official statement, Obaseki said he was “deeply shocked and appalled” that such an assault could take place in broad daylight and expressed disbelief over reports suggesting the attackers were acting at the behest of a highly placed institution. “I strongly condemn the violent attack, maiming and abduction of my cousin… by armed thugs who are said to be acting under instructions of the palace of the Oba of Benin,” he said, describing the act as embarrassing, troubling and a blatant disregard for human dignity and the rule of law.
The statement characterised the assault as a barbaric act that undermines legal norms and threatens the safety of citizens, calling on security agencies to conduct a thorough, transparent investigation and to identify and arrest all those responsible. Obaseki emphasised that the use of non‑state actors to execute violence on behalf of any individual or institution cannot be tolerated in a democratic society and called on human rights organisations, civil society groups and concerned Nigerians to lend their voices in condemning the incident.
Authorities, including the Edo State Government, have responded to the allegations with denials of official involvement, asserting that the incident is not connected to the state administration or government policy. Edo State officials described attempts to link the attack to government activity as “false and misleading,” affirming that the state has been engaged in efforts to curb cultism and thuggery and maintain peace in the region.
Public reaction to the incident has been intense. The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also condemned the assault in the strongest terms, labelling the actions of the attackers as dehumanising and antithetical to the dignity of the Benin people. The party described the attack on Obaseki as a calculated ambush that does not reflect the culture, values or history of Benin civilisation, stressing that any grievance — cultural or otherwise — should be addressed through lawful channels rather than mob violence.
Beyond political responses, legal and civil society voices have joined the chorus of condemnation. Lawyers and rights advocates have highlighted the criminality and illegality of abduction, stripping, and public humiliation, underscoring that no cultural or traditional dispute can justify such treatment of a citizen. These observers have called for accountability for all perpetrators and urged that the incident be investigated as a violation of constitutional human rights protections.
The exact motive for the attack remains unclear, though reports suggest that the assailants claimed to be acting on behalf of the palace and that they accused Dr. Pedro of disrespect. In interviews following his release — after intervention by the police — Dr. Pedro himself suggested that the alleged offence cited by his attackers stemmed from a public statement he made abroad that was perceived as insufficiently deferential to the monarch, though he emphasised that he had never been shown official identification or formal charges.
The viral footage of Dr. Pedro’s ordeal — including scenes of him being stripped, humiliated and forced to kneel — has sparked widespread outrage across social media and news outlets, prompting questions about the intersection of traditional authority, political influence and individual rights in contemporary Nigeria. Critics have warned that allowing such acts to go unchallenged could set a dangerous precedent, eroding public confidence in both cultural institutions and the justice system.
Security experts and rights activists argue that regardless of the motivation, the use of force and public degradation of an individual, especially under the implication of palace authority, poses a serious challenge to civil liberties and the protection afforded by law. They insist that investigations must not only identify the direct perpetrators but also interrogate any institutional involvement or complicity, ensuring that traditional reverence does not become a shield for unlawful conduct.
As of this report, police and security authorities have not issued comprehensive details about arrests or prosecutions in connection with the abduction. The Edo State Police Command is believed to be reviewing the matter, but formal charges, if any, and the next steps in the legal process have not yet been made public.
The incident has reignited broader debates about the limits of traditional authority, the need to uphold the rule of law, and the imperative of protecting citizens’ rights against violent intimidation or humiliation — regardless of alleged cultural offences. For many observers, how the case is handled by security agencies and the judiciary will be a litmus test for the state’s commitment to human rights and legal accountability.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments