By BONIFACE AKARAH

The Society of Nigeria Theatre Artists (SONTA) has strongly condemned the public humiliation of Dr. Don Pedro Obaseki, a renowned playwright, actor, and cultural ambassador of the Benin people, by a group of miscreants in Benin on Sunday, December 28, 2025. In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, and signed by SONTA President, Prof. Tunji Azeez, FSONTA, FTA, MNAL, the society described the incident as “a shocking dehumanisation of one of our illustrious sons who has spent decades promoting and preserving the rich culture and traditions of the Benin people both nationally and internationally.”

Prof. Azeez added, “It is appalling that youths of a people long admired for their culture could stoop to stripping and parading Dr. Obaseki like a common criminal. More troubling is the alleged link of the palace to this barbaric act.”

Dr. Obaseki, celebrated for his decades-long contributions to the creative arts and Benin cultural heritage, has drawn national and international acclaim for his work in theatre and film. SONTA noted that the attack on him is not just an affront to an individual but “an insult to the Benin culture and the wider creative community.” The society highlighted that Dr. Obaseki’s productions have preserved oral histories, promoted indigenous storytelling, and inspired a generation of young artists to embrace Benin traditions in contemporary theatre.

The society also stressed that such incidents underscore a broader concern about respect for cultural icons and the role of youths in society. “When those entrusted with cultural knowledge are publicly humiliated, it threatens the very fabric of our traditions and undermines the values that sustain communal identity,” the statement said.

Calling for justice, SONTA stated that the police must handle the investigation “with objectivity, diligence, and professionalism to bring the perpetrators—and their sponsors, if any—to account.” Prof. Azeez emphasized, “This is the only way to redeem the humiliation of Dr. Obaseki and to show the world that the Benin people stand against acts of barbarism and lawlessness.”

The society further pledged its solidarity with Dr. Obaseki and his family. “The entire creative world will not sit idly by while one of our own is disgraced. This hooliganism and blatant disregard for law and order must stop,” the statement concluded.