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By Oscar Okhifo
Former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has reacted to the assault on his cousin, Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, by suspected thugs in Benin City, calling for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible.
Pointblank news gathered that the attack occurred on Sunday at Uwa Primary School, Igbesamwan, where Dr. Pedro Obaseki was playing football.
Eyewitnesses said he was beaten up, stripped naked, and forcefully taken to the palace of the Oba of Benin.
In his statement, Obaseki described the incident as a serious violation of fundamental human rights and a reckless disregard for the rule of law, emphasizing the need for urgent action by security agencies to hold the perpetrators accountable.
“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 from a highly placed institution,” Obaseki said.
Dr. Pedro Obaseki, a former Managing Director of DAAR Communications and a respected journalist, was reportedly physically assaulted, intimidated, and tortured by the attackers before being forcibly taken away.
“Dr. Pedro Obaseki was attacked at Uwa Primary School, where he was brutalized by armed thugs, stripped of his clothing and forcibly taken to the palace. A viral video circulating on social media clearly shows the armed thugs leading him away in a battered condition,” he added.
Obaseki also expressed deep disappointment over the alleged involvement of the palace in the incident, describing the development as embarrassing and 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,” he said.
The former governor warned that allowing thugs and non-state actors to operate freely on behalf of powerful individuals or institutions could lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“A situation where thugs 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 a degeneration into a state of anarchy, which will do no one any good,” Obaseki warned.
He called on human rights organizations, civil society groups, and all well-meaning Nigerians to raise their voices against what he described as a shocking violation of human rights, urging collective action to ensure that such acts of brutality and lawlessness are not tolerated.