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Germany Hands Over Stolen Benin Bronzes To Nigeria

Published

3 years ago

December 20, 2022

Editor

The German Government on Tuesday commenced the official repatriation of 1,130 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria.

At a historic repatriation ceremony held in Abuja, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock symbolically handed over 22 of the 1,130 looted artefacts to his Nigeria counterpart, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was witnessed by the German Minister of State for Culture, Claudia Roth, the German Ambassador to Nigeria Anneth Gunter and over 50 top officials from Germany.

Mohammed said the event would remain indelible in the history of mankind when Germany trail the blaze in doing right to return the looted artefacts.

“Twenty years ago, even ten years ago, nobody could have anticipated these bronzes returning to Nigeria, because the obstacles to achieving repatriation were seemingly insurmountable.

“But today, with the pioneering gesture of a friendly nation, Germany, the story has changed.

“The negotiations were not as easy as things look today. They were stormy at times. But the sincerity of the Germans played a big role in resolving knotty issues.

“Because of what Germany has done, negotiations with other nations, institutions and museums for repatriation of the Benin Bronzes in their possession became swifter,’’ he said

Mohammed said contrary to views in certain corners, Nigeria has the infrastructure to keep the bronzes as they were being returned.

He said that the Federal Government was embarking on infrastructural development around the National Museum in Benin City.

“This will be in addition to the infrastructural development that is being initiated by other stakeholders in Nigeria and the immense support of foreign partners, particularly Germany.

“Easily, Benin City will become a cultural hub for Africa,’’ he said.

Mohammed called on other nations, institutions, museums and private collectors still holding on to Nigerian antiquities to release them.

He particularly called on the British Museum to release the more than 900 Benin Bronzes in its hold.

“A year has rolled by since Nigeria submitted an official letter to the British Museum demanding the return of Nigerian antiquities in this museum. Yet there has been no reply of any kind.

“I visited in July this year hoping that the success recorded with the Germans will nudge the British Museum to do what is right. But I met a brick wall.

“The British Museum and all those holding on to our artefacts must understand that repatriation is a cause which time has come,’’ he said.

Speaking in the same vein, Onyema said Germany and Nigeria had set a standard for the rest of the world to follow.

To underscore the importance of the ceremony, the minister recalled when Nigeria hosted the Festival of Art and Culture in 1977 and Britain denied the country the mask it intended to use as the face of the event.

“When we wanted to host the global historical event, we could not use its original mask that we intended for the festival.

“This is because it is in a museum in the United Kingdom in Britain and we asked that at least they should lend it to us even though it belongs to us.

“Guess what, the answer from Britain was No. So we had to have a replica made of the mask that we used,’’ he said

On her part, the German foreign affairs minister said they found it imperative to return the bronzes to where they belonged after over 120 years it was looted by the British.

“What we are returning today are not mere objects to you and to the Nigerian people. What we are returning is a part of your history and a part of who you are.

“I think as Germans and Europeans we should really pause for a moment and reflect on what this actually means. What it means not to have crucial part of your history with you, but you have it taken from you.

“Today, we are here to return the Benin Bronzes to where they belong, to the people of Nigeria.

“We are here to right a wrong because officials from my country once bought the Bronzes knowing that they had been robbed and stolen,’’ she said.

The minister continued: “We ignored Nigeria’s plea to return looted bronzes for a very long time. It was wrong to take them but it was also wrong to keep them.

“This is the story of European colonialism. It is a story in which our country plays a part, but we are correcting the wrongdoings today.’’.

Baerbock underscored the need to make the artefacts accessible to every person in society.

To that effect, she said they would be funding the construction of an art pavilion in Edo state which would be used to display the bronzes.

She said they have also agreed that some of the bronzes would go on travel expositions around the world.

The minister added that some of the bronzes would remain as loan in German museums so that they could tell the stories and history of their origin.

“What is crucial is that we know where they are from, we know they belong to Nigeria and you can always come and they can also always come back to their home,’’ she said.

Similarly, Roth, the German minister of state for culture said they had closed their eyes for too long refusing to recognise the injustice surrounding the bronzes on display in their museums and keeping them in storage for so many years.

She said by returning them, they have made a statement that everyone has the right to experience the cultural heritage where it originated in its homeland.

Present at the event were Nigeria Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, Nigeria Ambassador to Germany Yusuf Tuggar, and Director-General of the National Commission for Museum, Prof. Abba Tijani, among others

Headline

FG Summons S. African Envoy Over Rising Xenophobic Attacks On Nigerians

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

The Federal Government has summoned the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa in Abuja over renewed concerns about xenophobic attacks and protests targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, living in that country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the envoy is expected at its headquarters on Monday, May 4, 2026, for a high-level engagement aimed at addressing the growing tension and safeguarding bilateral relations between both countries.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Nigeria would formally express its “profound concern” over recent developments in South Africa, particularly reports of harassment, violence, and destruction of property belonging to foreign nationals.

According to the ministry, the meeting will focus on ongoing demonstrations by various groups in South Africa and documented cases of attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in parts of the country.

“The objective of this engagement is to formally convey the Nigerian Government’s profound concern regarding recent events that have the potential to impact the established cordial relations between Nigeria and South Africa,” the statement read.

It added that discussions would also address ongoing demonstrations by various groups within South Africa and documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses.

The ministry acknowledged growing anger among Nigerians over reports of xenophobic violence but urged restraint, stressing that diplomatic engagement remained the preferred channel for resolution.

It assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was actively engaging South African authorities to ensure the protection of its citizens abroad.

“The Ministry is aware of the growing discontent among Nigerians concerning the treatment of their nationals in South Africa. Nevertheless, it implores the Nigerian public to remain calm and reiterates the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa,” the statement added.

The latest diplomatic move comes amid renewed reports of xenophobic tensions in parts of South Africa, where foreign-owned businesses have occasionally been targeted during protests linked to unemployment and economic hardship.

South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence dating back to 2008, with subsequent flare-ups in 2015 and 2019, when mobs attacked migrants, looted shops, and displaced thousands of foreign nationals across several provinces.

In past incidents, Nigerians and other African nationals were among those affected, prompting strong diplomatic reactions from Abuja and calls for stronger protection of foreign communities.

While South African authorities have repeatedly condemned such attacks and deployed security forces to restore order during outbreaks of violence, concerns have persisted over recurring hostility in some communities.

Headline

Mississippi Man ‘Kills Mother, Flushes Her Remains Down Toilet’

Published

4 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

A 29-year-old Mississippi man, Zachary Lavel Jackson Jr., has been charged with multiple offences, including first-degree murder, over the death of his mother, Lana Brown Bradley, after deputies responded to her Natchez home on April 4 following a missing person report from relatives.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called to Bradley’s residence after her oldest son was unable to reach her the previous day.

Jackson was initially identified as a family member before investigators confirmed he was her son.

Sheriff Travis Patten described the case as deeply disturbing.“This is by far the most heinous crime that I’ve ever witnessed in my entire life. We weren’t out there that day; this was one of those things when we walked up.

“This was one of those cases that you will never, ever forget in your life. This is the type of case that follows you home,” Patten told WJTV.

According to the sheriff, deputies noticed signs of a recent cleanup when they arrived at the home.

“As soon as they walked in the house, they could just see where somebody had been cleaning up, and they could smell chemicals all throughout the house.

“Floor was extremely slippery. And the older son said that this is just unusual for the youngest son to be cleaning up the house like that,” Patten explained.

Jackson, the youngest son, was found in a bathroom, where deputies allegedly made a discovery that became central to the investigation.

“I can say what was in the toilet, and it was her flesh. He chopped her up in pieces and dismembered her in a way that whoever came looking for her would have to do their due diligence to find her, and that’s just what we did,” the sheriff said.

Authorities said Jackson allegedly placed parts of his mother’s body in a suitcase and attempted to dispose of other remains.

Jackson faces charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, mayhem and tampering with evidence.

Headline

Iran Says War With US May Resume As Trump Rejects Proposal

Published

4 days ago

May 2, 2026

Editor

Iran’s military has warned that the war with the United States and Israel could resume, declaring that it is fully prepared for any renewed confrontation as tensions between the sides continue to deepen.

In a statement reported by Iranian state-affiliated media, senior military officials said a return to hostilities is “likely”, citing what they described as Washington’s lack of commitment to previous agreements and negotiations.

The warning comes after US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Iran’s latest peace proposal, saying the terms presented by Tehran included demands he “can’t agree to”.

According to officials in Tehran, Iran believes it showed flexibility during earlier negotiations, including talks held in Islamabad and during the ceasefire period. However, authorities argue that the United States has instead taken a tougher stance, widening the gap between both sides.

Iranian officials insist that key issues such as sanctions relief and the status of the Strait of Hormuz must be resolved before any broader agreement, including discussions around its nuclear programme, can progress. They also reject what they describe as US demands amounting to “surrender”.

The growing diplomatic deadlock has raised fears that another round of fighting may be imminent, with Iranian authorities indicating that preparations are already underway.

Meanwhile, the prolonged conflict continues to have far-reaching consequences within Iran. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reports that the country has entered its 64th day of near-total internet disruption, effectively isolating it from global online networks.

The shutdown, which began after renewed anti-government protests earlier in the year and intensified following the outbreak of the war, has significantly disrupted businesses and livelihoods across the country.

Beyond Iran, the conflict is also reshaping global dynamics. Rising oil prices linked to the war have placed pressure on international markets, while geopolitical tensions have strained alliances, including between the United States and European partners.

As both sides remain far apart on key issues, analysts warn that without a breakthrough in negotiations, the fragile pause in fighting could collapse, paving the way for renewed military escalation in the region.