Netherlands returns looted Benin artefact to Nigeria after 129 years

Netherlands has returned a historically significant Benin artefact to Nigeria, over a century after it was seized during the British invasion in 1897. The artefact was ceremonially handed over to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, at his palace in Benin City on October 20, 2026, as part of festivities surrounding the monarch’s tenth coronation anniversary.

The transfer was carried out by the Dutch Consul General, Frank Keurnorst, and Beatrice van Bormann, Executive Director of Museum De Fundatie in the Netherlands. This event signifies progress in Nigeria's ongoing pursuit to reclaim cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period. Lucky Imasue, leader of the 10th Coronation Anniversary Committee and a former deputy governor of Edo State, hailed the return as a major victory in the kingdom's era-long quest for the recovery of its cultural assets.

He praised the Dutch government for its role in facilitating the restitution and choosing the monarch's coronation anniversary for the presentation. At the event, Oba Ewuare II welcomed the return of the ancient object, expressing gratitude to the Netherlands for its contribution to the restitution process. He also revealed plans to enhance cultural and historical ties between the Benin Kingdom and Portugal, noting their long-standing interactions dating back to early European contact with the kingdom.

The return of the artefact is part of Nigeria's broader efforts to regain thousands of stolen items from the Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British invasion. Besides their historical value, the repatriation of these objects bears implications for Nigeria's cultural and tourism industries, with authorities viewing heritage preservation, museum development, and cultural tourism as possible avenues for economic growth.