Oba Ewuare ll Foils Re-looting Of Artifacts

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has revealed that an international art cartel had attempted to re-loot the priceless Benin artifacts returned to Benin in the last few years.
The Oba made the disclosure as the Government of the Netherlands returned 119 looted Benin bronzes to the ancient kingdom.
The Monarch made this declaration at a symbolic ceremony held at his palace to receive the repatriated artifacts, originally plundered during the infamous British invasion of 1897.
Present at the event were the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Mr. Olugbile Holloway; and the Director-General of Wereld Museum; Ms. Marieke van Bommel, who led a delegation from the Netherlands and Abuja to formally return the artifacts to their ancestral home.
The return, according to the Oba, was made possible through sustained advocacy by the Benin Royal Court and formal diplomatic requests from the Nigerian Government.
In response, the Dutch authorities, through their Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, signed transfer agreements facilitated by Minister Eppo Bruins and Nigeria’s NCMM Director General, Mr. Holloway.
Oba Ewuare II thanked God, President Bola Tinubu and Governor Monday Okpebholo, who stood firm in ensuring the artifacts were returned rather than diverted through illicit or political means.
“There were groups in this country, backed by an international cartel, who conspired to re-loot our artifacts. They hatched a strategy to steal these treasures again, but they failed. Our ancestors protected them,” the Oba declared.
“They tried to extinguish the spirit and morale of the Benin people. But the people of this great kingdom have remained bold, brave, and courageous, even after the tragedy of 1897.
“We fought a running battle to stop those bent on re-looting. I told my Chiefs right here that I would rather the artifacts remained abroad than be re-looted while I sit on the throne,” the Monarch stated firmly.
“There was once a government that sought to destabilize the Benin Kingdom, but our ancestors rose and defended the realm.”
The Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr. Musa Ikhilor reaffirmed Edo State Government’s commitment to preserving the artifacts and supporting the palace in building robust infrastructure for their conservation.
Ikhilor assured that the State Government would continue collaborating with the Federal Government and the Benin Royal Court to enhance storage and display systems for the artifacts, with the goal of boosting tourism and cultural heritage preservation in Edo State.
“We are committed to ensuring that a befitting museum is built – one that does not only protect these treasures but also attracts the world to Benin, the cradle of African bronze civilization.”
Ms. Marieke van Bommel, head of the Dutch delegation and Director-General of Wereld Museum, reiterated her country’s policy on repatriation of looted cultural heritage, stating that the 119 returned artifacts had been in Dutch collections for over a century.
“These items were undoubtedly looted, and we have returned them in accordance with our cultural restitution policy. It is only right that they return to Benin City, their place of origin,” she said.
NCMM Director-General, Holloway described the occasion as both symbolic and historic. He noted that the repatriation took several years of negotiations and was enabled by the understanding and cooperation of institutions holding the artifacts.
“The Dutch museum bore all costs associated with the return. This is a joyful moment for the people of Benin and Nigeria,” Holloway said.