Amnesty International Nigeria has strongly criticised the violent attack and public humiliation of Pedro Obaseki, a well-known filmmaker and former managing director of DAAR Communications, in Benin City, Edo State. The rights group described the assault — in which Obaseki was reportedly beaten, stripped, and dragged through the streets — as “barbaric and unlawful”, calling it a serious violation of human dignity and international human rights standards. 

In its statement, Amnesty also urged the Nigerian police to open a quick and thorough investigation and to bring all those involved to justice. The organisation said the attack showed a complete disregard for due process and insisted that no one should be subjected to mob violence, no matter the accusations against them. 

At the same time, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State condemned the incident, calling it a dehumanising and cowardly act. The party said the assault did not reflect the culture or values of the Benin people and warned that mob action and political violence threaten peace and the rule of law in the state. 

Both the human rights group and the PDP stressed that anyone accused of wrongdoing should face lawful procedures in court, not public attack or humiliation. Their comments reflect growing concern across Nigeria about rising violence and the need to protect citizens’ rights and safety.