BENIN MONARCH RECEIVES 119 STOLEN ARTEFACTS FROM THE NETHERLAND
Written by Olakunle Oke on June 19, 2025
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on Wednesday received 119 looted artefacts returned from the Netherlands, describing the moment as a spiritual and cultural triumph against persistent efforts by what he termed an international cartel seeking to re-loot the kingdom’s treasures.
Speaking emotionally at the Benin Royal Palace, the revered monarch expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari for backing the artefacts’ repatriation. He also issued a stern warning against modern political interference, which he said could endanger the Benin Kingdom’s heritage.
The Oba disclosed that there had been internal conspiracies in the past aimed at re-looting these artefacts. He emphasized his strong commitment to defending the ancestral legacy of the Benin people.
Also present at the ceremony, the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to retrieving even more artefacts from international collections.
Representing the Edo State Governor, a government official pledged the development of infrastructure to properly preserve and showcase the returned treasures.
The Director of the Netherlands’ Wereld Museum, Marieke Van Bommel, confirmed the return was carried out in accordance with Dutch national policy. She added that there are no more Benin artefacts left in Dutch possession.
