How I was arrested in Germany over repatriation of Benin artifacts, says ex-Edo commissioner

A former Edo Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Mr Osaze Osemwengie-Ero who was detained for over one year in Europe weekend in Benin explained how his trip to Europe to solicit for the repatriation of Benin artifacts led to his arrest and incarceration by German law enforcement agents.

Osemwingie-Ero said that he had travelled to several European countries in his crusade for the repatriation of the stolen artifacts but was arrested by German Police on trump up charges.

According to him, the Edo Festival of Arts and Culture (EdoFEST), organized in 2018, played a pivotal role in raising awareness for the return of the Benin artifacts.

The ex-commissioner said that he was proud of the progress made in the effort to return the artifacts which were stolen by the British during the 1897 punitive expedition.

He recalled: “We have done a lot of work. We travelled from London to Austria until the day I was arrested. I was on official duty to Berlin on the same issue. I was invited by the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar. We created a lot of awareness as well.”

He said that he committed his time while he was a commissioner to the pursuit of the return of the art pieces, adding:

“In 2018, the Edo Festival for Arts and Culture codenamed EDOFEST was organized by the Edo State Government. We did a photo exhibition of the stolen artefacts with locations in Europe and America. This exhibition was also done in the palace of His Royal Majesty, the Oba of Benin and to showcase the affected artefacts to the world.

“There have been a lot of meetings on our own part as the government and other individuals were creating a lot of awareness for people to know that these artefacts have to be returned.

“The feedback from the EDOFEST we did was very good. We wanted to put more pressure on the Europeans and Americans that those artefacts needed to be returned.”

He continued: “During the exhibitions, we had a lot of visitors. It coincided with the Oba’s anniversary, and a lot of visitors who came were at the exhibition hall to look at the artefacts. And we have feedback as well that people who visit those museums where they are at the moment would always identify them as artifacts from the Benin kingdom which should be repatriated.”

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