The Government of the Netherlands has returned 119 stolen Benin artefacts to Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, in a ceremony held on Thursday. The artefacts were among many looted during colonial times and have long been the subject of calls for repatriation.
Oba Ewuare II thanked the governments of Nigeria, especially President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari, for their support in securing the return. He said their efforts prevented what he described as “an international cartel” from re-looting the artefacts.
“This return is a sign of divine intervention and shows the power of determination and prayer,” the Oba said. He urged Nigerian youths to remain strong and resilient amid challenges.
The Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, confirmed that the 119 artefacts represent the largest single return so far. He added that the commission and the Benin Royal Palace are working hard to recover more stolen items.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, promised to cooperate with the federal government to build proper facilities for storing and preserving the returned artefacts.
Marieke Van Bommel, General Director of the Wereld Museum in the Netherlands, explained that the artefacts were looted but the country has a policy of returning items that do not belong to them. She noted that more Benin artefacts remain in Europe but are outside Dutch jurisdiction.
The return of these artefacts is a major milestone in the effort to restore Nigeria’s cultural heritage and strengthen ties between Nigeria and the Netherlands.
