The ancient Benin Kingdom is expected to receive about 40 looted cultural artefacts from Sweden on Thursday as efforts to recover its stolen heritage gain momentum.
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, stated this on Wednesday when the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ,NDLEA, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, paid him a courtesy visit at his palace in Benin City.
The monarch said the handover would involve both the legal and physical return of the artefacts in Lagos, describing the development as a significant milestone in the kingdom’s longstanding campaign to recover objects taken during the 1897 British invasion.
“Tomorrow, more artefacts are coming from that Sweden that I said, as a result of our effort many years back,” he said.
Oba Ewuare explained that the repatriation followed years of diplomatic engagements, including initiatives he pursued while serving as Nigeria’s ambassador to Scandinavian countries.
He recalled proposing the presentation of Benin artworks to the royal families of Sweden, Norway and Denmark as part of efforts to promote awareness of the kingdom’s cultural heritage and encourage the return of looted objects.
According to him, the recovery process has continued to gather momentum, with more countries responding to calls for the restitution of Benin artefacts.
The monarch reaffirmed his commitment to recovering the kingdom’s cultural property, noting that the initiative builds on the efforts of his predecessors.
He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, traditional institutions and other stakeholders supporting the repatriation campaign.
Earlier, Marwa commended the artistic excellence and historical significance of Benin’s ancient artefacts, describing their craftsmanship as exceptional.
“There are seven wonders of the world. Look at the eighth wonder here,” he said.
The NDLEA chairman expressed appreciation for the opportunity to visit the historic palace, stressing the importance of preserving the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
Marwa was in Edo State for an assessment visit to the agency’s state command and to address the Nigerian Army’s Second Regimental Sergeant Majors Convention.
