The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has dissociated the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, from the assault and public humiliation of Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, insisting that the incident was neither authorised nor condoned by the monarch
The clarification followed public outrage over a viral video showing Dr. Obaseki being assaulted and stripped by a mob of youths on Sunday, December 28, 2025.
The victim, a cousin of former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, was reportedly attacked while playing football at the Uwa Primary School field along Igbesamwan Street, Benin City.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the youths accused Obaseki of making disrespectful remarks about the Oba of Benin before dragging him from the field and marching him towards the palace.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Benin Traditional Council firmly rejected any suggestion of palace involvement, describing the monarch as a peace-loving leader who could not have sanctioned such an act.
“The Benin Traditional Council wishes to inform the general public that the unfortunate incident in which Pedro Obaseki was manhandled was not authorised by the Oba of Benin,” the statement said.
“It cannot be authorised 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 condemned the resort to mob action and cautioned youths against taking the law into their own hands, regardless of the level of provocation.
It urged residents to respect due process and allow security agencies to handle all grievances, warning that self-help actions undermine the rule of law and threaten communal harmony.
The BTC also addressed the role of social media in amplifying tensions, advising users to verify information before sharing content capable of inciting violence or spreading misinformation.
“Social media users should endeavour to cross-check information appropriately before posting,” the statement added.
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