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Anelka Egonda

International

20 December, 2022

1180

Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has handed 20 artefacts looted in the 19th Century back to Nigeria at a ceremony in the capital, Abuja.

The return of this set of Benin Bronzes follows a deal made earlier this year to transfer ownership of more than 1,000 of these precious objects.

In July, Nigeria said it was the first time a European country had entered into this kind of agreement.

Ms Baerbock said it was part of efforts to deal with a "dark colonial history". Speaking in Abuja, she added that it was an opportunity to right some of the wrongs of the past.

Moves to return objects stolen in the colonial era have been gathering momentum in recent years as European countries and museums grapple with how artefacts came into their possession.