BENIN CITY, June 23 (AGCNewsNet) – The Netherlands has returned 119 looted artifacts to Nigeria in what officials are calling the largest single repatriation of cultural heritage items to the country to date.

The returned items — including intricate plaques, human and animal figurines, royal regalia, and a ceremonial bell — are among the famed Benin Bronzes, looted by British forces during the 1897 invasion of the Benin Kingdom, in present-day Edo State.

At a handover ceremony in Benin City, Oba Ewuare II, the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, hailed the return of the items as a “divine intervention,” calling it a milestone in Nigeria’s quest to reclaim its cultural identity. The monarch emphasized that the restitution underscores the power of prayer and persistence.

The artifacts had been housed in a Dutch museum in Leiden for decades before Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) formally requested their return in 2022. The NCMM’s director, Olugbile Holloway, noted that the repatriation reflects growing international momentum to correct historical injustices from the colonial era.

“This is a proud moment for Nigeria. These items belong to our people and our history,” Holloway said, adding that the commission is actively working to recover more stolen artifacts from institutions around the world.

Marieke Van Bommel, director of the Wereld Museum in the Netherlands, reiterated her government’s support for returning colonial-era artifacts to their rightful countries. “We are committed to addressing the injustices of the past through dialogue and restitution,” she said.

Since 2022, Nigeria has received several batches of returned artifacts, including 72 pieces from a London museum and 31 from a U.S. museum in Rhode Island. These returns are part of broader global efforts to address ownership disputes involving looted cultural property.

The Benin Bronzes were originally created by highly skilled artisans from the Benin Kingdom and served as royal symbols and historical records. Their return marks a significant victory for advocates of cultural restitution across Africa.

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