The former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has condemned the violent attack and abduction of his cousin, Pedro Obaseki, at gunpoint by armed thugs, reportedly acting under the instructions of the palace of the Oba of Benin.
Naijaonpoint reported that Pedro, a former Managing Director of DAAR Communications and a renowned journalist, was attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he had gone to play football.
Pedro was subjected to physical assault, intimidation, and torture by the armed thugs before being forcefully taken to the palace.
A viral video circulating on social media shows the armed thugs taking Pedro, who was already stripped of his clothing, to the palace, where some palace chiefs ceremoniously received them.
The suspected thugs reportedly told palace guards that they had brought an Oghion (enemy) of the Oba.
However, some palace chiefs, who addressed the suspected thugs in Bini language, said the Oba had gone to the Holy Arousa Cathedral for a thanksgiving service to mark the end of the Igue festival.
The chiefs later took Pedro inside the palace, despite protests from the suspected thugs.
Sources say the thugs are awaiting further instructions from the Oba of Benin before Pedro Obaseki is released.
However, Obaseki, in a statement on Sunday, described the incident as a grave violation of fundamental human rights and a reckless disregard for the rule of law.
While expressing disappointment over the palace’s involvement in such a barbaric, shameful and ignoble act, Obaseki urged Nigerians to lend their voices to condemn the injustice.
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.
“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.
“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 no good.
“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.”