Stolen artifacts Britain returned to Nigeria after 117 years (photos)

Britain returns artifacts 117 years after taken away from its rightful position (home) in Nigeria.

    Over more than 117 years, two(2) statutes were returned by a Briton to their home after they were taken away during the invasion of Benin, and has led to calls for other ones to be returned.

These statutes were looted from the Palace of the Oba of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, during the invasion of the Benin territory in 1897. 

   The British soldiers under the lead of Captain Philip Walker, looted the Benin territory. A congratulatory message from the House of Representatives was 'then' sent to the Benin ruler, Omo Onoba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa 1.

After  the return of the statues  followed  the passing of a resolution following a motion sponsored by Samson Osagie.

stolen artifacts returned by a Briton

In a report from Africaeagle, Osagie had urged the House to appreciate the gesture of Dr. Mark Walker who decided, after diligent inquiries from the Richard Lander Society about their origin,  to retrieve the artifacts and return them to their homes.

 Mark Walker, the great grandson of Captain Philip Walker, who took part in the 1897 Benin butchery, returned the bronze, popularly known as ‘’Ahianwen-Oro’’ and presented it to the Oba of Benin in Company of other foreign nationals. Among the items stolen was the original mask of the head of queen Idia, which was used as the official symbol of the Festival of Arts and Culture(FESTAC) in 1977.

stolen-artifact-returned by a Briton