The denial was contained in a public announcement issued by the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) on Wednesday, and signed by its Secretary, Frank Irabor.
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has denied authorising the brutal assault on Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.
The denial was contained in a public announcement issued by the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) on Wednesday, and signed by its Secretary, Frank Irabor.
In the statement, the Council said, “The Benin Traditional Council wishes to use this medium to inform the general public that the unfortunate incident in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorized by the Oba of Benin.”
It stressed that such an act could not have emanated from the revered monarch, noting, “And it cannot be authorized because it is not in the character of our revered monarch to do so. The Oba of Benin is a peace-loving father to all.”
The Council also issued a strong warning to youths against resorting to self-help, regardless of the circumstances.
“The Benin Traditional Council also wishes to advise our youth not to take the laws into their hands on any issue no matter the degree of provocation,” the statement read.
“They should always respect the laws of the land in all actions and utterances and allow appropriate security agencies to handle all matters.”
Addressing the spread of unverified information, the BTC urged social media users to exercise restraint and responsibility, saying, “Social media users should equally endeavour to cross-check information appropriately before posting.”
On Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that thugs claiming to be acting on behalf of the Benin Traditional Council had seized, stripped, and assaulted Obaseki, accusing him of being an “Oghionoba”, a term translated as an enemy of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
Pedro Obaseki was dragged to the Benin Kingdom Palace by a group of Benin youths over claims of recent activities and remarks they described as disrespectful to the Oba.
Sources said the incident followed Pedro Obaseki’s recent attendance at a meet-and-greet event in London organised in honour of his cousin, former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who they also labelled “Oghionoba.”
In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, the actor was stripped to his boxers, forced to kneel, and crawl within the palace premises.
He was subsequently taken before individuals dressed in white attire and adorned with beads, believed to be palace chiefs or officials, who escorted him into the palace while the mob remained outside.
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.
He 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 narrated 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.”