Tens of suspected thugs on Sunday assaulted Don Pedro Obaseki, a veteran filmmaker and a cousin of former governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
The irate youths who stripped Pedro Obaseki half núde, also dragged him to a place believed to be a palace of a traditional ruler.
A trending video showed Obaseki being attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he had gone to play football.
The video bared the moment he was also dragged before some chiefs at the Oba’s palace where he was compelled to kneel down.
The suspected thugs reportedly told palace guards that they had brought an Oghionoba (enemy of the Oba) to the palace.
The Daily Crucible reports that Obaseki and the Benin monarchy was not quite cordial during his tenure as governor after he placed a ban on Okaigheles (youth leaders) in Benin Kingdom’s seven local government areas of the state.
In imposing ban on the group at the time, Obaseki said that the activities of Okaighelese were fuelling cultism in the state but the palace rejected the ban and the reason for the government’s decision, declaring Okaigheles as integral part of the Benin long – established tradition.
The then-governor also fell out with the palace over the repatriation of thousands of artifacts (the Benin Bronzes).
The frosty relationship took a worsening dimension when the Oba differed with Obaseki on the artifacts looted from Benin Kingdom during the British punitive invasion of old Benin empire in 1897.
The Oba had argued that the artifacts were looted from the Palace and should be returned to the Palace.
However, the then-governor Godwin Obaseki proposed the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), managed by a private entity, should takes custody of the returned stolen artefacts.
It is not clear what Don Pedro may have said against the Palace that elicited the youths’ wrath.
…Kapuepue Adun, Osayande Obakhavbaye, Osamede Nomoless Eriyo, Osamiefan Led the Attack On Me – Pedro Obaseki
STATEMENT BY DR. PEDRO OBASEKI
My name is Dr. Pedro Obaseki.
On Saturday, 28th December 2025, at about 11:00–11:30 a.m., while playing football at Uwa Primary School, Igbesanmwan Street, Benin City, I was suddenly attacked by a group of men.
The attackers, some of whom were armed and brandishing guns, forcibly abducted and kidnapped me. The individuals who led this attack identified themselves as Kapuepue Adun, Osayande Obakhavbaye, Osamede Nomoless Eriyo, and Osamiefan (also known as “Sales Guy”).
During the course of the abduction, they repeatedly stated that they had been sent by the Oba’s Palace to seize me. They alleged that the Palace was angry with me over a speech I had delivered to Edo people in London, which I reportedly closed with the phrase “Edo gha to kpere” (meaning “Long live the Edo people”) instead of “Oba gha to kpere” (meaning “Long live the Oba of Benin”). They further claimed that they had been sent to deal with any Obaseki, beginning with me.
I was severely beaten, dragged along the streets, and stripped completely naked. I was dragged along Igbesanmwan Road, taken to the front of Holy Aruosa Church, and publicly paraded in my nakedness. From there, I was further dragged around Ring Road and forcibly taken into the Oba’s Palace. The public beating, stripping, and humiliation occurred over a distance of approximately five (5) kilometres.
Inside the Oba Palace premises, I was slapped, beaten, gagged, and forced to kneel while naked. While in this condition, I attempted to plead for my life and dignity as the Oba drove past me within the Palace compound. Thereafter, I was forced into a Hilux vehicle and transported to the Oba Market Police Station.
I was detained at the police station for approximately five (5) hours. During this period, the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, visited the Station on three (3) separate occasions and informed me that I would be released pending clearance from the Oba. Eventually, at about 5:15 p.m., I was released from custody.
This statement is a true and accurate account of the events as they occurred.
