Shocking Abduction: Dr. Pedro Obaseki Stripped, Dragged to Oba’s Palace

Dr. Pedro Obaseki was playing football at Uwa Primary School, Igbesanmwan Street, around 11:00-11:30 a.m. when armed men, naming Kapuepue Adun, Osayande Obakhavbaye, Osamede Nomoless Eriyo, and Osamiefan (“Sales Guy”), seized him. They accused him of disrespecting Oba Ewuare II by ending a London speech with “Edo gha to kpere” (Long live Edo people) instead of “Oba gha to kpere” (Long live the Oba), claiming a palace directive to target “any Obaseki.” He was beaten, stripped naked, dragged via Igbesanmwan Road, Holy Aruosa Church, and Ring Road—a 5km humiliation—before palace entry. ​ Inside, he was slapped, gagged, and forced to kneel naked as the Oba drove by; palace chiefs urged calm amid Igue Festival thanksgiving, noting no disturbance desired. ​

Palace and Police Ordeal

Viral videos captured the naked dragging to the palace gate, where attackers labeled him “Oghion” (Oba enemy); chiefs took custody but thugs loaded him into a Hilux for Oba Market Police Station. Detained 5 hours, Edo Police Commissioner Monday Agbonika visited thrice, releasing him at 5:15 p.m. pending palace clearance. Obaseki described trauma, insisting palace seemed uninvolved from their reaction. ​

Victim’s Profile

Known as “Don Pedro” or Nollywood actor/director, Obaseki served as Atiku Abubakar’s PDP media consultant and Hosamudia Farms CEO. A Benin native honoring Edo culture for decades, he expressed shock at the betrayal amid his contributions. ​

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Reactions and Condemnations

Ex-Governor Godwin Obaseki decried the “barbaric” gunpoint attack as anarchy’s harbinger, urging probes and rights groups’ intervention. Rights activist Kola Edokpayi and ex-Senate Whip Rowland Owie called it constitutional violations of dignity and liberty, demanding arrests to avert lawlessness. ​