Amnesty International Condemns Nigerian Police For Failing To Arrest Pedro Obaseki’s Attackers

Global human rights body, the Amnesty International, has condemned the Nigerian Police over its failure to make arrests after the molestation of Pedro Obaseki.

The Amnesty International had condemned the abduction and public humiliation of Nigerian filmmaker Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki in Benin City, Edo State, describing the incident as “barbaric and unlawful.”

“The Nigeria Police is yet to make arrests or start investigation of the assault on Pedro Obaseki by some thugs that dragged him to the palace of Oba of Benin in a stunning show of impunity and utter disregard for the rule of law,” the organisation posted on X on Thursday.

“Rampant repression and suffocation of the civic space is increasingly eroding human rights in Edo state,” the statement further read.

“What happened to Mr. Pedro Obaseki is unlawful and shows complete disdain for due process. The Nigerian police  must investigate the incident and ensure that all those suspected of involvement in this crime are brought to justice,” it concluded.

It also described it as a gross violation of human rights.

The statement, first issued on Monday by Amnesty International, saw the global human rights organisation criticising the reported involvement of traditional institutions, urging the palace of the Oba of Benin to dissociate itself from the incident.

“The palace of the Oba of Benin, where he was dragged to in utter disregard for human dignity and the rule of law, must distance itself from such bizarre impunity,” the statement said.

The rights group stressed that the treatment meted out to Obaseki was unlawful and violated basic principles of due process, calling on law enforcement authorities to act.

On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that thugs claiming to be acting on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council seized, stripped, and assaulted a Nigerian actor, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, accusing him of being an “Oghionoba,” a term translated as an enemy of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.

Pedro Obaseki was dragged to the Benin Kingdom Palace by a group of Benin youths over claims of recent activities and remarks they described as disrespectful to the Oba.

Sources said the incident followed Pedro Obaseki’s recent attendance at a meet-and-greet event in London organised in honour of his cousin, former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who they also labelled “Oghionoba.”

In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, the actor was stripped to his boxers, forced to kneel, and made to walk on his knees within the palace premises.

He was subsequently taken before individuals dressed in white attire and adorned with beads, believed to be palace chiefs or officials, who escorted him into the palace while the mob remained outside.

Speaking in an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), Obaseki said the incident occurred around 11:00–11:30 a.m. while he was playing football with members of the Uwa All Stars at Uwa Primary School in Benin City.

According to the university lecturer and poet, the football ground was suddenly invaded by men he described as assailants, some of whom were armed.

“The place was attacked by assailants, and I was physically abducted. In short, basically kidnapped; some of them holding guns, some of them are known thugs,” he said.

Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo Governor Godwin Obaseki, explained that the men claimed they had been sent by the palace of the Oba of Benin to seize him, but failed to present any form of identification when he demanded proof.

He alleged that he was beaten, manhandled, and forcefully dragged through several streets in Benin City, including Igbesawan Street, Akpakpava Road, and Ring Road, where he was stripped naked in public before being taken into the palace premises.(SaharaReporters)