Suspected political thugs on Sunday reportedly assaulted and stripped naked the Chief Executive Officer of Hosamudia Farm, Don Pedro Obaseki, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Obaseki, who is a cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, was attacked while playing football at Uwa Primary School, according to a video of the incident circulating widely on social media.
Eyewitness accounts alleged that the assailants abducted him from the football field and forcefully took him to the Oba of Benin’s palace, where he was compelled to kneel at the palace gate. In the video, the attackers were heard telling palace guards that they had brought an “Oghion,” meaning an enemy of the Oba.
The incident reportedly caused tension at the palace, prompting some palace chiefs to intervene. Speaking in Bini language, the chiefs cautioned the thugs against causing unrest within the palace premises.
They also informed the assailants that the Oba of Benin was on his way to the Holy Arousa Cathedral for a thanksgiving service marking the conclusion of the annual Igue festival, warning that any disturbance would be inappropriate.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Edo State Police Command or the palace authorities on the incident.
