JUNE 21: Netherlands to return over 119 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria
The Netherlands says it is ready to return not fewer than 119 looted Benin bronzes to Nigeria this month.
The Dutch embassy in Nigeria confirmed to TheCable on Thursday that the bronzes will arrive in the week of June 16.
An official said the handover ceremony will take place on June 21 at the National Museum in Lagos.
They will later be returned to the National Museum in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
The number of artefacts is believed to be the single largest to be returned to Nigeria.
The bronzes were looted during the 1897 British raid on Benin City.
Earlier in February, the Dutch embassy in Nigeria said the artefacts should have never ended up in the Netherlands.
Bengt van Loosdrech, the ambassador-designate, said Nigeria had been clamouring for the return of the bronzes for over 50 years.
At the time, the embassy said the bronzes were expected to arrive in Nigeria later this year but did not specify when.
