The Netherlands has returned 119 looted artifacts, including Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria, marking the largest single repatriation of colonial-era treasures to the country. The artifacts—human and animal figures, plaques, royal regalia, and a bell—were handed over in a ceremony in Edo State, where they were received by Oba Ewuare II, the monarch and custodian of Benin culture.

The Benin Bronzes, looted by British soldiers in 1897 during the sacking of the Benin Kingdom, were primarily housed in Leiden’s Wereld Museum. The raid, led by Sir Henry Rawson, saw the exile of then-monarch Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and the plunder of countless cultural treasures from what is now southern Nigeria.

Oba Ewuare II described the restitution as “divine intervention,” attributing it to “the power of prayer and determination.” Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, which formally requested the return in 2022, has spearheaded efforts to recover looted artifacts globally.

Marieke Van Bommel, director of the Wereld Museum, affirmed the Dutch government’s commitment to repatriation. “These artifacts do not belong to us, and we are dedicated to returning them to their rightful owners,” she said during the ceremony.

Olugbile Holloway, director of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, hailed the return as a historic milestone. “This is the largest single repatriation Nigeria has achieved,” Holloway said, noting ongoing efforts to recover more looted items. In 2022, Nigeria secured the return of 72 objects from a London museum and 31 from a Rhode Island institution.

The repatriation reflects a broader global movement, with European and North American museums increasingly addressing ownership disputes over colonial-era artifacts. Nigeria’s persistent advocacy has positioned it as a leader in the push for cultural restitution, reclaiming its heritage one artifact at a time.