Filmmaker Don Pedro Obaseki has narrated a disturbing ordeal in Benin City, Edo State, where he alleged that he was attacked, beaten, stripped naked and publicly humiliated before being taken to the palace of the Oba of Benin.
Obaseki made the claims during an interview with African Independent Television (AIT), revealing that the incident occurred on Sunday, December 28, 2025, between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., while he was playing football with friends at Uwa Primary School in Benin.
According to him, a group of young men suddenly stormed the football field, claiming they were sent by the Oba of Benin. He said they failed to present any form of identification despite his repeated requests.
“Today, at about 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM, Sunday, the 28th of December, while playing football with my football mates at Uwa Primary School in Benin, assailants attacked the place and I was physically abducted — I’m sorry, physically kidnapped,” Obaseki said.
The filmmaker alleged that he was beaten and forcefully dragged through several parts of the city, including Igbisa and Agpapava, before being taken to Ring Road, where the situation escalated.
“I begged them to show me some form of ID. Of course not. I was dragged, beaten severely, manhandled, dragged through Igbisa and straight up to Agpapava… up to Ring Road, where I was stripped naked and taken into the palace of the Oba of Benin,” he recounted.
Describing the experience as deeply traumatic, Obaseki said he was forced to kneel in public, an act he described as the most humiliating moment of his life.
“I was meant to kneel in full public. I have never been so humiliated,” he added.
Obaseki further disclosed that he was later taken to a police station along Oba Market Road, where he was eventually released following the intervention of the Edo State Commissioner of Police.
He suggested that the incident may be linked to comments he made at a public event in London, where he used the phrase “Edo Ato Kpee”, meaning “May Edo people live long and prosper”, instead of a phrase specifically referring to the Oba.
“I am traumatised. I am distraught. I hear that my sin was that I went to London and said, ‘Edo Ato Kpee,’ which means, ‘May Edo people live long and prosper.’ That I should have said, ‘Oba Ato Kpeee,’” he explained.
Videos allegedly showing parts of the incident later surfaced on social media, sparking widespread reactions and debates online.
Reacting to the development, lawyer Rockson A. Igelige condemned the alleged assault, describing the stripping and public humiliation as criminal acts, and called on the authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter.
Similarly, the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also condemned the incident, describing it as dehumanising and urging respect for the rule of law.
As of press time, no official statement has been issued by the palace of the Oba of Benin regarding the allegations.