"Moral & appropriate": Museum begins return of artifacts looted by British troops

“Moral & appropriate”: Museum begins return of artifacts looted by British troops

A total of 72 pieces in the museum's collection will be returned following a request in January from Nigeria's National Commission for Museums & Monuments

Six artifacts stolen by British troops more than a century ago are being returned to their place of origin in Nigeria.

Two Benin bronzes are among the objects being returned by the Horniman Museum in southeast London – a move it has described as “moral and appropriate”.

A total of 72 pieces in the museum’s collection will be returned, following a request in January from Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments.

The remaining 66 artifacts will remain in the UK on loan for now, but they will be returned to Nigeria on a date to be decided.

Ownership of all the items was transferred to Nigerian officials at a ceremony on Monday, roughly 125 years after they were taken by force from Benin City.

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Nick Merriman, chief executive of the Horniman Museum and Gardens, was asked if he was frustrated at the reluctance shown by the much larger British Museum when it comes to handing over the 900 objects it has held for more than a century.

He said: “Journalists who ask me about the Benin return always want to ask me about the British Museum.

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