ABDUCTION OF DR PEDRO OBASEKI IN EDO STATE: THE NEGERIAN SECURITY AGENCIES HAVE FAILED IN THE JOB-FEMI FALANA

Fiery human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has condemned the continued failure of Nigerian security agencies to arrest those responsible for the abduction, public humiliation and brutalisation of Nigerian actor, Don Pedro, also known as Dr. Pedro Obaseki, in Benin City, Edo State

Falana made the remarks while appearing on Arise News TV, where he detailed what he described as a series of grave constitutional violations committed against the actor on December 28, 2025. 

“The events of 28th of December 2025 in Benin City are clearly criminal. His right to life was threatened by the criminal gang that descended on him while he was playing football. In the heart of Benin City, he was abducted, stripped naked and beaten to a pulp by the well-armed gang,” Falana said.

“As a matter of fact, in order to despise the crowd that gathered on the football field, these criminals shot into the air. So again, they were armed. We’re going to find out whether they have licenses to bear arms,” he added. 

Falana stressed that the assault went beyond mob violence, describing it as a direct attempt on the actor’s life.

“But clearly, the attempted, it was an attempt on the life of Dr. Pedro Obaseki. As if those terrorist acts were not enough, he was stripped naked and paraded. Again, his right to dignity was violated,” he said.

The senior advocate also faulted the subsequent actions of authorities, stating that Obaseki’s right to personal liberty was further violated after the assault.

“His right to personal liberty was breached in the sense that for several hours, he was captured, paraded and led to the Palace of the Oba of Benin who ordered that Dr. Obaseki be taken to the police station. You will have expected that the assailants would be arrested and made to make a statement by the police,” Falana noted.