Sunday, October 18, 2026

UK set to return two more looted artefacts to Oba of Benin

There will be a handing over ceremony on Saturday between the British High Commissioner to Nigeria and the Oba of Benin.

• February 15, 2022
Benin bronze of Okpa 'Cockerel'
Benin bronze of Okpa ‘Cockerel’

The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, will on Saturday take physical possession of another two bronzes from Cambridge and Aberdeen in the United Kingdom.

A statement issued by Frank Irobor, the secretary to the Benin Traditional Council, on Tuesday, said that the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, would return the artefacts to the Oba of Benin.

“The general public is hereby invited to join His Royal Majesty in receiving the Benin bronzes of Okpa ‘Cockerel’ and the bronze burst of an Oba (Uhunilao) both from Jesus College, Cambridge in Britain and Aberdeen in Scotland, respectively.

“The general public is invited to the physical handing over of the Benin bronze artefacts to the Oba of Benin.

“All invited guests are to be seated by 11:00 a.m,” the statement read in part.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Nigerian Bar Association

States

Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future

The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Residents fetching water from taps

States

Lagos water network serves only 1.03% of 20 million residents: LWC

Mr Anifowoshe said the corporation had an installed water production capacity of about 210 million gallons per day (MGD).

Heading 5

Catholic priest dies after Jesus’ statue falls on him during service 

Mr Molinari was being live-streamed when the incident occurred on Saturday.

States

Kebbi governor’s aide empowers 400 residents in Zuru

Beneficiaries were given cash ranging from N10,000 to N20,000.

Uba Sani

States

I’ve paid over N7 billion as compensation to property owners: Gov Sani 

The governor commended the owners of the 865 affected households.

Lagos State Council for Arts and Culture (LSCAC)

Heading 5

Lagos strengthens culture, youth engagement to boost creative economy

According to Mr Johnson, the government was encouraging young people to develop their creative skills.

Oludare Ogunjobi

States

Ogun FRSC commander dies after brief illness

He described Mr Ogunjobi’s death as a great loss to the corps.