The Department of State Services (DSS) has formally assumed responsibility for the investigation into the brutal attack, public humiliation and abduction of Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki in Benin City on December 28, 2025, following legal petitions from his counsel and mounting public outrage.
In a statement released this week by Obaseki’s lead lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, SAN, the DSS headquarters in Abuja confirmed that it is now leading all investigative efforts “in recognition of the nature, gravity and implications” of the incident and the legal filings before it.
The case has now been treated by the service as terrorism-related, a classification the legal team welcomed as appropriate to the alleged use of armed force, public intimidation and extra-judicial conduct documented in the videos that went viral nationwide.
According to widely-circulated video footage and subsequent statements from Obaseki and human rights organisations, Dr. Obaseki was attacked while playing football with friends at Uwa Primary School on Igbesamwan Street in Benin City.
The footage shows the 60-year-old filmmaker and former Managing Director of Daar Communications being seized by a group of men – some reportedly armed – beaten, stripped naked and dragged through public streets. He was taken to the Palace of the Oba of Benin and, at one point, forced to kneel at the palace gate amid threats and taunts from his abductors.
Obaseki recounts that assailants claimed they were acting on instructions from the palace over alleged “disrespectful comments” he made during a public event in London, claims that the Benin Traditional Council later categorically denied.
Shortly after his release, Obaseki engaged senior legal counsel and filed petitions with the DSS outlining alleged terrorism conduct, conspiracy, assault, unlawful detention and obstruction of justice. His lawyers maintain that the incident constitutes a terrorism-related attack due to the use of weapons, explicit threats to life and deliberate, coordinated intimidation of a citizen in public.
Obaseki’s legal strategy includes civil proceedings within Nigeria’s courts and petitions to international bodies — including the ECOWAS Court of Justice, European Union human-rights mechanisms and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on torture and arbitrary detention – aimed at ensuring transparency, evidence preservation and accountability.
The legal team also noted that concerns about the conduct of local authorities and procedural integrity during Obaseki’s earlier engagements with security officials in Benin City have been documented and submitted to appropriate oversight authorities.
The assault elicited widespread condemnation from civil society actors, human-rights organisations and political figures. Amnesty International described the attack as barbaric and unlawful, urging immediate police action and accountability for those responsible.
Former Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki – Dr. Obaseki’s cousin – also condemned the violent assault, calling it a grave violation of human rights and urging security agencies to act swiftly.
In the wake of the incident, the Edo State Government has publicly denied involvement in the attack or any link to the actions of the mob that carried it out. Similarly, the Oba of Benin’s palace has denied authorising the attack, and called on youths to respect due process and allow lawful agencies to handle disputes.
Obaseki’s legal team has also placed social media and digital content platforms on notice about the circulation of video footage linked to the incident, seeking cooperation with lawful accountability processes and urging responsible content handling.
In his own public comments, Dr. Obaseki emphasised that the pursuit of legal action “is solely in furtherance of justice, the rule of law and public accountability” rather than political gain or sensationalism. He has called on authorities and the Nigeran public to support efforts to ensure all perpetrators, collaborators and enablers are identified and brought before the law.
Timeline: Attack, Abduction and Legal Actions in the Pedro Obaseki Case
December 28, 2025 – Day of the Attack
• Mid-morning (around 11:00-11:30 a.m.), Dr. Pedro Agbonifo Obaseki – a veteran filmmaker, media executive and cousin of former Edo State governor Godwin Obaseki – was attacked while playing football with friends at Uwa Primary School, Igbesamwan Street, Benin City.
• A group of men, some reportedly armed, forcibly seized and abducted him from the football field.
• The attackers accused him of making disparaging remarks about the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during a public event in London and claimed to be acting on instructions from the palace.
• Video footage circulated online showing Obaseki being beaten, stripped and humiliated, dragged through the streets of Benin City, and taken toward the Oba of Benin’s Palace.
• Some reports indicated he was made to kneel and walk on his knees in the palace compound before being taken into custody.
• He was then reportedly taken to the Oba Market Police Station, where he was detained for about five hours before being released later that afternoon.
December 28-29, 2025 – Immediate Aftermath
• The Edo State Government issued a statement disclaiming any involvement in the attack or link to the state’s security apparatus.
• Civil society groups and political parties, including Amnesty International Nigeria and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, condemned the incident as “barbaric” and an assault on the rule of law, urging security agencies to investigate.
• Initial public reactions included criticism that the attack reflected political and social tensions in the state.
December 31, 2025 – Palace Response
• The Benin Traditional Council issued a statement distancing Oba Ewuare II and the palace from the assault, saying the monarch did not authorise or condone the attack.
January 1 – 3, 2026 – Petition to SSS
• On January 3, Dr. Obaseki formally petitioned the State Security Services (SSS/DSS) over the abduction, assault and public humiliation, detailing the events of December 28 and naming suspected leaders of the group that attacked him.
• In his petition to the DSS Director-General, he urged a full investigation to identify and hold all perpetrators accountable under the law, noting that the acts amounted to serious offences under Nigerian criminal law.
Early to Mid-January 2026 – Legal Strategy and Clarifications
• Media outlets reported that the Obaseki family publicly backed Dr. Pedro’s bid for legal redress, condemning the attack as a gross violation of human rights and an affront to Benin’s cultural values.
• Human rights groups and commentators increasingly referenced the assault as not just criminal but a breach of fundamental rights and due process.
January 18-20, 2026 – Court Action
• In mid-January, Dr. Obaseki announced his intention to pursue civil and criminal proceedings in Nigerian courts against those responsible for his abduction, beating, and public humiliation.
• He stated that the legal action was aimed at securing accountability, deterring similar violations, and protecting human dignity, stressing that his motivation was justice, not political revenge or motive.
• Obaseki’s lawyers described the conduct involved in the incident – including use of armed force and public intimidation – as supporting a terrorism-related classification, a move later recognised by the DSS.
Late January-Early February 2026 – DSS Takes Over
• Following the petitions and widespread attention, the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja formally assumed conduct of the investigation, treating the case as terrorism-related due to the severity of the acts and allegations involved.
• Dr. Obaseki’s legal team welcomed the development as appropriate given the impact of the attack and the need for a thorough, impartial probe.
