Assault On Obaseki: Suspects, Family Members Apologise

FROM IKHILI EBALU,  BENIN CITY

Some suspects who were arrested and charged to court by the Nigeria Police Force for physical assault, intimidation and torture of Dr Pedro Obaseki Tuesday besieged the residence of the victim with their relations and friends to formally apologise to him.

Dr Obaseki, a former Managing Director of DAAR Communications, was attacked at Uwa Primary School, Benin in Oredo Local Government Area, where he went to play football in December last year.

AljazirahNigeria recalls that the renowned journalist was on December 28, 2025, stripped naked and dragged along the streets down to the palace of the Oba of Benin by some suspected thugs.

Receiving the assaulters, Dr Obaseki said he had forgiven them, but noted that he was highly traumatised by the incident.

He added that having listened to appeal from various quarters, he had no choice than to let it slide.

According to him, “Everybody is aware of the events of December 28, 2025 and it is almost four months now.  My children and I were very pained but there is a proverb in Benin that only the  leopard’s cob can lick the leopard’s underside.

I am an Edo man; I am an Obaseki and I wanted to use this as an affirmation that we are not the enemies of Edo people.

“So that is the only validation I need. The only thing I wanted to say, which I will say maybe in a larger forum, is, I want to thank a few close friends. I want to thank my family because we did not fall from the sky, “he stated.

Obaseki noted that he felt relieved that those who once declared him an enemy of the palace had come to plead for forgiveness and also state with their own mouths that I was not the enemy of the kingdom.

He said he is going to set up a non-governmental organisation to champion the cause against assault and intimidation on citizens of the state.

Osaze Adun, (Kapuepue), who led the thugs, said he was very sorry for his action and never would such happen again.