Mexico returns stolen Ile-Ife Artifact

The United Mexican States has returned a stolen Ile-Ife artifact to Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama revealed this via his Twitter handle when he received the artwork from the Charge D’affaires of the Nigerian mission in Mexico, Yakubu Dadu.

“Presented with an ancient bronze sculpture by Dr. Yakubu Dadu, Chargé Affaires of The Nigerian Embassy in Mexico.” 

“This Ife bronze was stolen from Nigeria and noticed at an airport in Mexico by our Ambassador at the time, Aminu Iyawa,” the minister tweeted on his official handle.

The minister explained that the then-ambassador was “suspicious and alerted the authorities who played a significant role in ensuring it was recovered and handed back to us.”

While thanking the Mexican government for its role in the return of the artifact, he said he will present it to the Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed.

Presented with an ancient bronze sculpture by Dr. Yakubu Dadu, Chargé Affaires of The Nigerian Embassy in Mexico. This Ife bronze was stolen from Nigeria and noticed at an airport in Mexico by our Ambassador at the time, Aminu Iyawa. pic.twitter.com/ZLAlxRc6qF

— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) April 8, 2021

I will present it to my colleague, Minister @FMICNigeria, Alh Lai Mohammed, at a later date. ???? @GobiernoMX

— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) April 8, 2021