Nollywood filmmaker and media executive, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, has narrated a painful experience of alleged abduction, assault, and public humiliation in Benin City, Edo State. The incident, which he said happened on Sunday, December 28, 2025, has sparked concern and renewed debate about safety, abuse of power, and the role of culture in conflict situations.
Obaseki, a former Managing Director of Daar Communications and a cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said he was attacked by a group of young men while playing football with friends. The incident reportedly took place at the UBA Primary School field in Benin City.
According to Obaseki, the attack happened between 11:00 and 11:30 am. He said the group suddenly stormed the football field and began to harass him. He described the attackers as youths, some of whom were armed.
“Today at about 11–11:30, while playing football with my football mates at UBA Primary School in Benin, the place was attacked by assailants,” Obaseki said.
He claimed that he was forcefully taken away from the field against his will. “I was physically abducted, basically kidnapped. Some of them were holding guns,” he said, adding that others were not in uniform.
Obaseki said the attackers claimed they were sent by the palace of the Oba of Benin to arrest him. He said he asked them to identify themselves, but they refused.
“I begged them to show me some form of ID,” he said. “Instead, I was dragged, beaten severely, manhandled, and taken through the streets of Benin.”
He further alleged that the group paraded him openly through the city, causing fear and shame. According to him, the situation became worse when he was stripped naked in public before being taken into the palace of the Oba of Benin.
“I was stripped naked and taken into the palace of the Oba of Benin, where I was made to kneel in public,” Obaseki said.
He described the experience as the most humiliating moment of his life. “I have never been so humiliated because of who I am and because of my nativity,” he said. “I have served my culture.”
The Benin monarchy is one of the oldest and most respected traditional institutions in Nigeria. The Oba of Benin is highly revered, not just in Edo State but across the country. Matters involving the palace are often treated with deep respect, and any action linked to the palace attracts serious attention.
Obaseki, however, said that from what he later discovered, the palace may not have ordered his abduction. He said after the incident, he was released and taken to a police station near Oba Market.
He explained that the Edo State Commissioner of Police visited him several times within two hours of the incident. According to Obaseki, the police boss later ordered his release.
“He came to see me three times before he ordered my release from the police station,” Obaseki said.
Obaseki also said that from his interaction with some palace chiefs, it became clear that they did not send anyone to abduct him.
“From the chiefs I met at the palace, it was clear they did not send these people on this mission,” he said.
This statement has raised questions about who was behind the attack and why the attackers claimed to be acting on behalf of the palace.
Obaseki suggested that the incident may be linked to a cultural issue and a statement he made during a recent trip to London. He said he was told that his “offence” was a public remark where he wished Edo people long life and prosperity.
“I am traumatised,” he said. “I heard that my sin was that I went to London and made a public statement that ‘May Edo people live long and prosper.’”
According to Obaseki, he was told that in Benin tradition, such a statement should be directed only at the Oba. He said his words were seen as disrespectful.
“That I should have said, ‘May the Oba live long and prosper,’” he explained. “That my saying ‘may Edo people live long and prosper’ is a cardinal sin in Benin.”
Obaseki expressed deep pain over the accusation, especially given his long involvement in promoting Benin culture. He said he has spent between 35 and 40 years working to promote the culture and image of the Benin people through media and film.
“I have elevated the culture of the Benin race,” he said.
The incident has drawn public attention because of Obaseki’s status and his family ties to the former governor. It has also raised wider concerns about the actions of individuals who claim to represent traditional institutions.
In recent years, there have been reports in different parts of Nigeria of youths or groups acting in the name of traditional rulers or government authorities to intimidate or punish others. Such actions often lead to confusion and abuse, especially when they are not officially approved.
So far, there has been no official statement from the palace of the Oba of Benin regarding the incident. The Edo State Police Command has also not released a detailed public report on the matter.
Civil rights groups have called for a proper investigation to identify those responsible for the alleged abduction and assault. They say no one should be subjected to violence or public humiliation, regardless of cultural disagreements.
As discussions continue, many residents of Benin City and Edo State are watching closely to see how authorities will respond. For Obaseki, the incident has left deep emotional scars.
“I am traumatised,” he repeated.
The case has once again highlighted the need for clear boundaries between culture, tradition, and the rule of law, as well as the importance of protecting citizens from abuse and unlawful treatment.