Benin National Congress

30th August 2007

The Director General,
National Museum and Monument,
Abuja.

Dear Sir,

A case of missing Benin Artifacts from the custody of the Benin Museum.

On behalf of the members, executives and trustees of the above named Pan Benin socio-cultural organization; we wish to humbly and most respectfully bring to your knowledge officially (as we are told that you are aware) the case of missing Benin artifacts from the custody of the Benin Museum. As a prominent stakeholder in Benin nation, we undertook a painstaking investigation following the speculation that some of the most precious artifacts which are no doubt the most significant contributions of our ancestors were missing after they were allegedly taken away for oversea’s exhibition.

It is incumbent on us to bring the issue to your knowledge when it became apparent that our people may resort to other means to protest the alleged stealing of these items whose consequences may not be palatable or friendly especially at a time ethnic organizations are being urged to employ dialogue and proactive legal or intellectual approach in the resolution of seeming dispute or crises.

We are of the firm believe that you would carefully look into the issue and reply our letter within the shortest possible time as the Congress is consulting Benins and other concerned Nigerians on the most reasonable path in the pursuit of this course.

The missing artifacts include the following, - Oba Eweka the 1st commemorative semi-circular brass plaque; Uhunmun Elao- commemorative Ancestral Head; Headless Mounted Warrior; Ivory Tusk; Brass Cork-Commemorative Altar Object; Mounted Warrior- Horseman from the North; Okpa Eronmwon- Brass Cockerel; Ikenga’Obo- Altar of the Hand; Obobu Bell- Janus Headed Brass Bell; Oba Akengboi- commemorative Brass Plaque; Ahiamwen’Oro- Bird of Prophesy or Bird of Disaster; Ohuan Eronmwon- A pair Brass Sheep; Oni of Ife- Miniature Brass Figurine; Commemorative Trophy Head; Brass Leopard; Brass Python Head. For the avoidance of doubts, please see attached scan pictures, which are in seven pages. We do hope you would appreciate this gesture.

Thanks
Yours truly,

Elder Owenaze Guobadia
Chief Welfare Officer
Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo - President

Cc:

His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa CFR, Oba of Benin,
His Excellency, Senator (Prof.) Oserhimen Osunbor,
Gov. Edo State,
All Elected National Assembly members from Benin nation,
The curator, National Museum and Monument, Benin City,
Benins in Diaspora Organization,
United Kingdom. National commission of Museum and Monuments.