Meanwhile, Nigerian human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has reacted to the growing reports of violence.
Fresh allegations of state-backed political violence have rocked Edo State, as thugs linked to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s political family are accused of harassing critics, brutalising citizens, and silencing dissent.
Meanwhile, Nigerian human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has reacted to the growing reports of violence.
Adeyanju vowed to petition the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Western countries to impose visa bans on Edo politicians and their alleged foot soldiers involved in the oppression of critics and vulnerable citizens.
Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that some of the identified thugs were involved in the recent attack on a popular critic, Don Pedro, who was reportedly beaten and stripped by hoodlums believed to be operating with political backing.
In a related incident, Adam Ehigiamusoe, also known as Shaba, one of the alleged enforcers, was accused of brutally assaulting a female staff member over a salary dispute two days before the attack on Don Pedro—raising further concerns about a pattern of unchecked violence and abuse.
Those identified by sources as part of the network allegedly terrorising critics in Edo State include Chris Osa (a cameraman), Kapuepue Adun (alleged ringleader), Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), Amas Edobor, Tony Kabaka Adun, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, Adam Ehigiamusoe (Shaba), Imasuen Izoduwa, Culture Iyamu, and Stephen Eriamatoe.
Reacting to the developments, Adeyanju issued a warning, stressing that international accountability would be pursued.
“Over the years, we have succeeded in most of our Visa Ban advocacies against Nigerian politicians as many of them can no longer visit the US and other developed nations. The tyrants in Edo State and their little cretins are next. The ongoing dehumanisation of critics and citizens in Edo state must stop,” Adeyanju said.
SaharaReporters previously reported that Nigerian actor, Dr Don Pedro Obaseki, recounted his abduction, assault, and public humiliation by a group of assailants who dragged him to the Oba of Benin Palace on Sunday, describing the incident as traumatic and deeply degrading.
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 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.
He said, “I begged them to show me some form of ID, of course not. I was dragged, beaten severely, manhandled, and dragged through Igbesawan Street up to Akpakpava, which is the main thoroughfare in Benin, and up to Ring Road, where I was stripped naked, and taken into the palace of the Oba of Benin, and where I was meant to kneel in full publicly.”
On November 24, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that top senior members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, including the supposed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) representative for Edo State, Patrick Aisowieren, Deputy Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Osamwonyi Evbaguehita Atu, and Acting Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council, Hon. Gabriel Iduseri, have openly celebrated and financially rewarded a physical assault on an APC critic in Manchester, UK.
SaharaReporters gathered that the leaders held an open reception in Edo State to honour Ehimare Erewele, popularly known as Double Chief, who slapped and assaulted APC critic, Albert Obazee, during former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s meet-and-greet session in Manchester on November 16, 2025.
During the gathering, party chieftains described the violent act as a “digital slap.”
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Aisowieren, Osamwonyi and Iduseri were seen laughing, applauding and praising Double Chief as donations were announced specifically to reward him for the assault.
Aisowieren pledged ₦500,000, declaring that Double Chief had defended the governor.
He said, "Ladies and gentlemen, on this occasion, we want to use this opportunity to launch, I don't know how to put the slap, the digital slap, he gave to one Albert Obazee. So, I'm starting the launch and I want to launch the slap with sum of N500, 000."
Deputy Speaker Osamwonyi publicly pledged ₦300,000.
He said, "I stand behind my leader, Hon. Patrick Aisowieren, we're all going to launch this digital slap. You know, it's the beginning of the digital slap and I stand here today as a Benin man to launch this slap in N300,000."
Iduseri added ₦200,000, saying, "Today, I stand behind my leader, for the new introduced digital slap, to our brother Albert Obazee. And I'm launching that slap with the sum of N200,000."