After more than 117 years, two statues taken by the British during the invasion of Benin were returned by a Briton to their rightful home. This led to calls for other ones to be returned. They were looted from the palace of the Oba of Benin, Edo state, during the punitive expedition/invasion of the Benin Empire in 1897. Led by Captain Philip Walker, the British soldiers looted the Benin empire. A congratulatory message from the House of Representatives was then sent to the Benin monarch, Omo Onoba N'edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa 1. The return of the statues was followed by the passing of a resolution following a motion sponsored by Samson Osagie. The stolen artifacts Britain returned to Nigeria According to Africaeagle, a news website, Osagie had urged the House to appreciate the gesture of Dr Mark Walker who decided, after painstaking inquiries from the Richard Lander society about their origin, to retrieve the artifacts and return them. Walker, the great grandson of Captain Philip Walker, who took part in the 1897 Benin massacre, returned the bronze, popularly known as "Ahianwen-Oro' and presented it to the Oba of Benin in company of other foreign nationals. He noted that among the items stolen was the original mask of the head of Queen Idia, which was used as the official symbol of Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC) in 1977. https://www.naij.com/1108843-117-years-see-stolen-artifacts-britain-returned-nigeria-photos.html

This is welcome development. Nice one.

Oba gha tor kpere, isee!

That's like a spoon off the ocean. Britain stole from the whole world and won't even be able to keep track of their loots. In the late 1800's one person called Wallace Borger, the then director of the British museum, stole 1,500 pieces or artworks from Egypt on a single trip. He returned for two or three more trips.

As for artifacts taken from Nigeria, they are yet to scratch the surface. Most had already been sold to other museums around the world. And it's only when there's pressure to return a specific piece that they do so. To host the FESTAC in 1977, Nigeria asked for a return of some artifacts, but Britain refused. The British government later asked that Nigeria pay about €500,000 as safe-keeping fees. Imagine!!. A thief giving condition to return stolen items. Unfortunately, the gullible Nigerian government who didn't know their right paid the money. It was only then Britain released a small part of the loot.

African artifacts remains crying across European museums.

Britain was and still among the worst nations in almost every departments. Among many other nations, Britain had treasures form Ethiopia during their military mission in Abyssinia during 1868. The treasury that was looted was so much that it needed 15 Elephants and 200 Mules to carry it. They had also taken Emperor Tewodros son to England with them. His body is still in England now. Some treasures had been returned like emperor Tewodros crown, but many still remains their.

Britain is a country that developed because of the extensive treasures she looted.