Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has condemned the alleged assault and public humiliation of his cousin, Don Pedro Obaseki, who was reportedly stripped naked by suspected political thugs in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday.
Don Pedro Obaseki, the Chief Executive Officer of Hosamudia Farm, was said to have been attacked while playing football at Uwa Primary School, according to a video that has since gone viral on social media.
The attackers allegedly abducted him from the school premises and took him to the Oba of Benin’s palace, where he was forced to kneel at the palace gate.
Witnesses said the assailants told palace guards that they had brought an “Oghion,” meaning an enemy of the Oba.
However, some palace chiefs, who spoke in Bini, reportedly cautioned the thugs against fomenting trouble, explaining that the Oba was on his way to the Holy Arousa Cathedral for a thanksgiving service marking the end of the Igue festival.
One of the chiefs was heard saying that the palace did not want any disturbance on such a significant day, adding that anyone who truly considered himself an enemy of the Oba would eventually face the consequences without resort to violence.
The chiefs later took Obaseki into the palace, despite resistance from the thugs.
Reacting in a statement, Godwin Obaseki described the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and an alarming disregard for the rule of law.
He said, “I strongly condemn the violent attack on my cousin, Dr Pedro Obaseki, by armed thugs. Dr Obaseki, a former Managing Director of DAAR Communications and a renowned journalist, was attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he was subjected to physical assault, intimidation, and torture before being forcefully taken to the palace.”
The former governor called on security agencies to carry out a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure that all those responsible were brought to justice.
He warned that allowing thugs and non-state actors to take the law into their hands on behalf of powerful individuals could plunge society into anarchy.
Obaseki also appealed to human rights organisations, civil society groups and concerned Nigerians to speak out against what he described as a gross injustice and abuse of human rights.
When contacted, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, said the situation had been brought under control.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, had met with the parties involved to address the matter.