₦airaland Forum

Hoodlums Working For Edo Governor Okpebholo's Loyalist, Kabaka Burn Home Of UK-based Critic On New Year’s Eve

January 1, 2026

Some hoodlums, allegedly linked to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo's loyalist, Tony Kabaka, have been accused of burning down the home of Albert Obazee, a UK-based media critic originally from Edo State, on the eve of the New Year.

Eyewitnesses say the assault occurred late Wednesday in Obazee’s neighbourhood, where a group of young men wielding bottles filled with what appeared to be petrol and kerosene forced entry into the property.

They reportedly smashed windows, wrecked furniture and household items, and ultimately poured accelerants before setting the building ablaze.

An occupant, who spoke anonymously with SaharaReporters, described how the mob destroyed the window, broke in, trashed possessions and then drenched the building before lighting it on fire.

A disturbing video obtained by SaharaReporters showed almost the entire house engulfed in flames, with a plastic bag containing petrol bottles visible among the wreckage - stark evidence of premeditation.

The footage also captured rooms, the kitchen, and living spaces extensively damaged by the blaze, leaving the once-secure residence uninhabitable.

Obazee, a vocal critic of the Okpebholo administration known for his commentary on Edo politics and governance, had his house targeted just days after the governor, in an earlier interview, was seen making threats perceived by many as directed at him.

As of now, no official statement has been released by the Edo State government or the Nigeria Police Force regarding arrests or charges related to the arson.

SaharaReporters previously reported that governor Okpebholo has publicly threatened Obazee, vowing to send him to prison and warning that he would not be allowed to freely step on Nigerian soil.

In a video interview obtained by SaharaReporters, the governor was heard issuing the threat while admitting that he closely monitors Obazee’s social media activities, including posts critical of his administration.

“Obazee will definitely go to prison. I said he will not touch the soil of Nigeria,” Okpebholo said.

“I wake up every night, I stay awake from 3am, watching all the social media, even Obazee, watching him abuse me. I learnt something from him. There is nothing I don’t see.”

The governor’s comments have created a tense and violent atmosphere, amid allegations that thugs loyal to him, led by Edo APC Youth Leader Tony Kabaka, vandalised Obazee’s residence in Amagba, Benin City.

In another video sighted by SaharaReporters, the scene at the residence of Obazee showed extensive destruction, with both the exterior and interior of the building reportedly damaged.

An eyewitness who occupies one of the flats in the compound confirmed the incident off-camera, citing fear of intimidation.
“I saw up to about 30 boys walking towards the gate with all sorts of weapons,” the eyewitness said.

The incident reportedly followed Obazee’s social media post alleging that Tony Kabaka had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged mutilation of NERRA nodes.
Kabaka later confirmed that he had indeed been invited and interrogated by the EFCC, a development Obazee said validated his report.

About 24 hours after the post, Obazee raised the alarm again, alleging that his house —worth millions of naira — had been destroyed by thugs led by Kabaka.

Speaking on the incident, Obazee said the attack has left him and those connected to him living in fear.

“The occupant of my house saw him. He came to destroy my house,” Obazee said. “Tony Kabaka has terrified me, my family, and the occupants of my house.

“Right now, everyone affiliated with me is scared. I want the relevant authorities and the Edo State government to look into this matter.”

Obaseki’s ally house burnt in Edo

By Adeyinka Adedipe
January 2, 2026

United Kingdom-based supporter of former Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Albert Obazee, has lamented a fire outbreak that gutted his house in Amagba, Benin City, alleging it was arson by agents of the state government.

According to Obazee, the fire happened during New Year’s crossover night on Wednesday.

Speaking during a Facebook live stream on Thursday, Obazee described the alleged attackers as “children of hate and anger who cannot build but only destroy.”

He added that he would not be intimidated and would continue to speak on issues as they arose, despite suggestions that he should take a lower profile.

In a phone call received during the live stream, a caller who stayed in the house said the CCTV cameras could not capture the faces of the arsonists because they attacked from a blind spot.

The caller explained that they acted quickly to extinguish the fire, preventing total destruction of the building.

Obazee said, “I am sure the thugs who came are loyal to the state government. They are not comfortable with the truth I say online, but this attack will not make me stop.

“They just want to destroy. They are children of hate, children of anger, who can build but destroy.

“Just a simple discussion, they resort to burning houses. You people will only render those living in the house homeless. Can you burn the land?

“So if I come to Nigeria now, you think I will stay in that house in Amagba. I am happy that those who know my other properties do not belong to your group.”

A government official who preferred to remain anonymous because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, however, dismissed the allegations, stating that the state government had more pressing matters than burning an individual’s property.

The official called on the police to investigate and apprehend those responsible.

He said, “It is absurd to think that the state government will burn the house of an individual. What purpose would that serve? We call on the police to carry out a thorough investigation into the matter to fish out the culprit(s).”

Efforts to reach the state Police Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, were unsuccessful.

Obazee, a loyalist of Obaseki, has been at odds with both the state government and the Oba of Benin Palace since Obaseki’s tenure ended.

He was attacked at an event last year, and a palace chief delivered a letter to him at his residence in the UK, an act that enraged Obazee.

A police officer had to intervene to calm the situation after Obazee accused the chief of acting on behalf of the palace and the state government.

naptu2:
Some people accuse Albert Obaze of having a hand in the destruction of Tony Kabaka's hotel by the Godwin Obaseki Administration in 2020.

Gotocourt:
I blame Edo citizens for voting poorly educated Okpebolo who empowers thugs . Next elections will be very dirty in that state 🤷🏿.

Julibet:
Nigeria may not be redeemed anytime soon.

naptu2:
Previous threads

Albert Obazee is a supporter of the PDP and former governor Godwin Obaseki. He has been a long time critic of the Monday Okpebholo Administration.

There was a cold war between Former Governor Godwin Obaseki and the Oba of Benin over the return of Bini artefacts. The former governor wanted to build a state-owned museum for the artefacts, while the Oba wanted to build a royal museum.

Therefore, Albert Obazee is also a critic of the Oba.

Many Bini people have warned Albert Obaze to stop attacking the Oba, in fact, he was slapped at an event in Manchester a few weeks ago.

The supporters claim that Albert Obaze raped a teenager in Nigeria and fled to the UK (because his wife was a student in the UK) and they say that he's attacking the governor and Oba so that he can claim that he is being persecuted in Nigeria and therefore he needs asylum in the UK.

Previous threads

Why Protesters Invaded The Museum In Benin City
https://www.nairaland.com/8558971/why-protesters-invaded-museum-benin

Edo Politics: Double Chief Slapped Albert Obazee In Manchester (video)
https://www.nairaland.com/8573029/edo-politics-double-chief-slapped

Slap: Edo Government Officials Will Be Cautioned If They Celebrated Double Chief
https://www.nairaland.com/8573842/slap-edo-government-officials-cautioned


Pedro Obaseki Stripped, Taken To Palace Of Oba Bini, Knelt Down- Pics
https://www.nairaland.com/8588889/pedro-obaseki-stripped-taken-palace

I Am Surprised That Oba Of Benin Will Stoop This Low – Obaseki
https://www.nairaland.com/8589615/surprised-oba-benin-stoop-low

Oba Of Benin Denies Involvement In Pedro Obaseki's Assault (Pix)
https://www.nairaland.com/8590664/oba-benin-denies-involvement-pedro

Drama As Joseph Ogiehor Delivers Letter To Albert Obaze In The UK
https://www.nairaland.com/8590902/drama-joseph-ogiehor-delivers-letter

DenreleDave:
Edo state, one of the most usel££ss state in the south.....

No meaningful development other than destruction.. They jsut exist for nothing. ....

Bad enough, they are close to the most us€less state Kogi

OredoPikin2:
if dem ask ur state now, you will be claiming lagos, meanwhile na either Ekiti, Ondo, Osun or Ogun you go be.
how can you be from any of these 4 states and you have mouth to badmouth edo
edo is far far ahead of those 4 states in everything

Passionnn:
It's a pity how these touts in power have dragged the country back to the Stone age