Nigeria is making significant strides in its quest to reclaim thousands of Benin Bronzes and other intricate artifacts looted by British soldiers in 1897 from the former Kingdom of Benin, now part of southwestern Nigeria.
The Dutch embassy announced that the Netherlands will return 119 artifacts following an agreement between the Dutch Education Minister and Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.
The collection, which includes 113 bronzes from the Dutch State Collection and six pieces from the Municipality of Rotterdam, is expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year.
The move marks another milestone in global efforts to repatriate African cultural heritage.
"The Netherlands is returning the Benin Bronzes unconditionally, recognising that the objects were looted during the British attack on Benin City in 1897, and should have never ended up in the Netherlands," the embassy statement said.
The statement quoted National Commission for Museums and Monuments director general Olugbile Holloway saying that, when completed, this will be the single largest return of the ancient antiquities to date