BENIN CITY, Nigeria — The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, on Thursday, July 19, 2025, received 119 Benin artefacts repatriated from the Netherlands, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s decades-long quest to recover looted cultural treasures.
During a formal handover ceremony at the Benin Royal Palace, Oba Ewuare II described the return of the items as a product of divine intervention and praised successive Nigerian administrations for safeguarding the artefacts from being re-looted.
“There were groups in this country believed to be an international cartel that had all sorts of conspiracy to enable them re-loot our artefacts,” the monarch said.
“But through God’s intervention and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former President Muhammadu Buhari, the artefacts were protected and returned.”
The Oba expressed his appreciation to the Dutch Government for its collaboration and described the gesture as a morale booster for the people of Benin.
“This return reawakens the courage and morale of the Benin people. It is proof of what prayer, determination, and unity can achieve,” he added.
He also extended gratitude to Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), for his leadership in the recovery effort.
Speaking earlier, Holloway said the 119 artefacts constitute the largest single batch of looted items received so far by Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to working with traditional institutions, particularly the Benin Royal Palace, to recover more cultural heritage items still held in foreign institutions.
“We are working tirelessly to ensure that many more artefacts stolen during the colonial era are returned,” Holloway stated.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Musa Ikhilor, assured that the state government would partner with the federal authorities to improve the preservation of the artefacts.
He announced plans to build state-of-the-art storage and display facilities to protect and showcase the historical pieces.
Marieke Van Bommel, Director-General of the Wereld Museum in the Netherlands, said the decision to return the artefacts was rooted in ethical responsibility.
“These items were looted, and the Netherlands has a policy to return what does not belong to us,” she said.
Van Bommel acknowledged that more Benin artefacts are held in European collections but noted that many remain outside the jurisdiction of the Wereld Museum.
Discussions are ongoing with other institutions for possible future returns.
The artefacts, which include bronze plaques, royal regalia, and ceremonial objects, were originally taken during the British punitive expedition of 1897 and have since been displayed in museums across Europe.
Their return is widely seen as both a symbolic act of justice and a significant step toward cultural restitution.
Oba Ewuare concluded the event with prayers for continued unity and strength among Nigerian youth, urging them to remain resilient amid adversity.
“This moment shows that when we stand firm, we can reclaim our history,” he said.
