Nigeria’s return of looted artefacts to Oba of Benin from Germany
In a significant event, the Federal Government has officially handed back two looted artefacts to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, in Benin City. These artefacts were originally looted and taken to Germany but have now been repatriated to Nigeria, where they were briefly held by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) in 2022.
The Director-General of NCMM, Mr. Olugbile Holloway, carried out the ceremonial presentation of the returned items, which included bronze and wooden Royal Stools (Ekete) that date back centuries to the reigns of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie. The artefacts were taken during the British punitive expedition at the time of Oba Ovoranmwen Nogbasi's rule.
During the handover event at the palace on Saturday, May 18, 2024, Holloway expressed the Commissio...