The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, on Monday received two artefacts looted from the Benin Palace during the 1897 British invasion.
The items, a mother hen and a bronze plaque, were returned by the University of Iowa Museum in the United States.
Expressing gratitude for the return, the Oba commended former President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in advocating for the repatriation of stolen artefacts. He described the artefacts as possessing spiritual significance beyond their material value.
The monarch appealed to political leaders to support the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
Cory Gundlach, a curator from the University of Iowa Museum, apologized for the institution’s use of the artefacts as teaching materials and pledged to facilitate the return of other looted Benin artefacts in their possession.
