In a historic cultural restitution, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has officially returned 119 looted Benin artefacts to Nigeria, marking the full repatriation of all Benin items once held in Dutch museums.
The ceremonial handover took place at the Royal Palace of the Oba of Benin in Benin City, Edo State.
Marieke Van Bommel, Director General of the Wereld Museum in the Netherlands, led the delegation that presented the returned items to His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II.
She affirmed that the artefacts were unlawfully acquired during colonial incursions and have now been returned in accordance with the Netherlands’ national policy on the restitution of looted cultural heritage.
“These artefacts were taken unlawfully, and our policy in the Netherlands is to return them. We have brought back 119 artefacts—the complete collection held by Dutch institutions,” Van Bommel stated.
“While there are more scattered across Europe, their return is beyond our jurisdiction. But we hope other countries will follow this example.”
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The artefacts, mostly looted during the infamous 1897 British invasion of the Benin Kingdom, include royal regalia, ceremonial objects, ancestral busts, and other historically significant items.
Their return comes as a major victory in Nigeria’s ongoing campaign to reclaim stolen cultural heritage from former colonial powers.
Oba Ewuare II, while receiving the repatriated treasures, expressed profound gratitude to the Dutch authorities and warned against emerging internal and international plots to misappropriate the returned items.
“There were conspiracies involving international networks within our own country who aimed to re-loot these returned artefacts,” the monarch revealed.
“I made a vow that as long as I sit on this ancient throne, no one would succeed in taking what belongs to our ancestors. If the choice is between re-looting and leaving them abroad, they should rather stay there.”
Reflecting on the traumatic legacy of the 1897 invasion, the Oba noted that the looting of sacred items had a devastating psychological impact on the kingdom’s youth and cultural identity.
“The invasion destroyed our kingdom and demoralised our people. Our courage was suppressed,” he said. “But today, with the return of these objects, the spirit and boldness of the Benin people are being restored.”
The monarch also praised President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the artefact repatriation efforts initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He commended the leadership of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) under Director General Olugbile Holloway, who was present at the ceremony and credited for taking firm steps to protect Nigeria’s heritage.
Oba Ewuare did not shy away from criticising a former NCMM chief whom he accused of colluding with foreign interests to divert the artefacts.
“This throne is above politics, but I will always stand by what benefits my people,” he declared. “These artefacts are not for anyone else—they belong to our ancestors.”
In a symbolic spiritual gesture, the Oba offered prayers with his royal sceptre, invoking divine intervention for the successful return of more artefacts still held in museums and private collections around the world.
In his remarks, NCMM Director General Holloway reiterated the federal government’s commitment to working closely with the Benin Royal Palace to pursue ongoing repatriation processes with other European nations.
Representing Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Musa Ikhilor, assured the palace of the state’s readiness to preserve and protect the returned treasures. He pledged collaboration with the federal government to develop world-class conservation, storage, and exhibition facilities.
The return of the artefacts by the Netherlands adds to a growing global movement acknowledging the injustices of colonial-era lootings, with calls mounting for other countries—including the UK, Germany, and France—to follow suit by returning Africa’s stolen heritage to its rightful custodians.