Don Pedro Obaseki, a cousin to the former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has shared a harrowing account of his recent ordeal in Benin City. In a detailed narrative, he described how he was kidnapped, physically assaulted, and subjected to a series of public humiliations by a group of armed men on a Sunday morning that should have been peaceful.
The incident reportedly unfolded around 11:30 a.m. while Don Pedro was engaged in a football match with the Uwa All Stars at Uwa Primary School. According to his account, the quiet of the morning was shattered when armed assailants stormed the field. The men seized him, claiming they were acting on direct instructions from the Palace of the Oba of Benin, a claim that added a layer of confusion to the unfolding violence.
What followed was a traumatic journey through the heart of the city. Don Pedro alleged that he was dragged through several major streets, including Igbisawan and Akpapava, as his captors beat and manhandled him. Despite his repeated pleas for the men to identify themselves or explain their legal authority, the assault continued. He further claimed that by the time they reached the busy Ring Road area, he had been stripped naked in a deliberate attempt to destroy his dignity.
The victim was eventually taken to the Oba’s Palace, where he was forced to kneel in a public display of submission. He described the experience as soul-crushing, noting that as a native of Benin himself, being treated like a common criminal in his own ancestral home made the physical pain almost secondary to the emotional trauma.
The ordeal only came to an end when he was moved to a police station along Oba Market Road. It was at this point that the Commissioner of Police intervened, personally reviewing the situation and ordering his immediate release. While Don Pedro is now free, the scars of the assault and the brazen nature of his abduction in broad daylight have left many in the community questioning the safety and rule of law in the state capital.
