The Mexican government delivered to Nigeria on Tuesday an ancient bronze sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport as its buyer tried to bring it into this country.

The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.

“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told a press conference.

“A beautiful bronze piece, and that being of Nigerian heritage, it should return to its home.”

Officials did not offer more details about the sculpture’s exact origins or the circumstances of its confiscation.

“It was also determined that it had been illegally exported,” the Mexican foreign ministry said.

Nigerian Ambassador Aminu Iyawa acknowledged the work of the Mexican authorities in recovering the sculpture.

SonofDevil:
When ooni said ife was the cradle of world civilization people never believed.this sculpture left in the 6 century now we re in 21st century meaning it left ife almost 2000 years ago

tartar9:
I've never read of anytime an artifact was returned or asked to be returned to the South East.
Our white exploiters through the ages couldn't find anything worth stealing there.

Corrections:
YORUBA NATION WILL RISE AND SHINE!!!

The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument

SonofDevil:
When ooni said ife was the cradle of world civilization people never believed.this sculpture left in the 6 century now we re in 21st century meaning it left ife almost 2000 years ago

HajaraIsah1:
.