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Oba of Benin now has full statutory rights to returned artefacts – Okpebholo
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has officially granted full ownership rights of the repatriated Benin artefacts, looted during the 1897 British invasion, to the Oba of Benin.
In a statement on Sunday, Fred Itua, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, announced key decisions that affirm the administration’s respect for Benin’s cultural heritage and its traditional institutions.
Among the actions taken, Governor Okpebholo abolished the newly created traditional councils in Edo South established by the previous administration. He also revoked the concession of the Oba Akenzua II Cultural Centre, previously converted into a motor park, restoring it to its original purpose.
On his inauguration on November 12, Governor Okpebholo had pledged to honor the Oba of Benin as the exclusive custodian of the artefacts returned from Western nations. This stance aligns with a Federal Government gazette recognizing the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, as the rightful owner of the artefacts through Government Notice No. 25 in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 57, Volume 110.
Restoration of Traditional Authority
Governor Okpebholo has reinstated the statutory financial entitlements of the Benin Traditional Council (BTC) and emphasized maintaining the pre-existing status quo prior to the establishment of the abolished councils. His administration has also expressed full support for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum to house the artefacts, distancing itself from the Museum of West Africa Art (MOWAA), an initiative championed by the previous administration.
According to Itua, “Governor Okpebholo respects the rights and privileges of the traditional ruler of the Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Ewuare II. The administration is committed to ensuring the Oba fulfills his role as custodian of the rich cultural heritage of the Benin people.”
Non-Interference in Traditional Affairs
The governor further assured that his administration would refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Benin Traditional Council. “The Oba of Benin, as the father of all Benin people, is the sole custodian of their customs and traditions. My administration respects these traditions and hereby restores the statutory rights of the Oba as the true custodian of the returned artefacts,” Okpebholo said.
He reaffirmed his government’s dedication to supporting traditional institutions and ensuring the rights of the revered Oba are fully upheld. “Governor Okpebholo is leveraging his constitutional authority to restore all statutory rights of the Monarch not explicitly mentioned, in recognition of the Oba’s pivotal role in preserving the culture and traditions of the Benin Kingdom.”
News
Military Troops Battle ISWAP Attack in Maiduguri
The affected areas include Dala, Bulamari and Ajilari Cross, where residents reported intense gunfire coming from the outskirts of the Borno State capital.
Residents in parts of Maiduguri were thrown into panic late Monday night after heavy gunfire was heard across sections of the city.
Witnesses say the sound of gunshots triggered fear and confusion, forcing many residents to flee their homes in search of safety.
The affected areas include Dala, Bulamari and Ajilari Cross, where residents reported intense gunfire coming from the outskirts of the Borno State capital.
Security sources say suspected fighters linked to Boko Haram or ISWAP launched an attack on the outskirts of Maiduguri, prompting a swift response from Nigerian troops.
Nigerian Air Force fighter jets were also deployed and are currently engaging the assailants as efforts continue to repel the attack.
Authorities are yet to release an official statement on the incident, while residents remain on edge as security forces work to contain the situation
News
Insecurity: Nigeria’s Internally Displaced Persons Hit 3.726m
According to the report, Zamfara is hosting 276,887 IDPs in 9 camps as of March 2026, while , Benue State hosts over 500,000 internally displaced persons, making it one of the worst-hit states.
Data compiled by the International Organisation for Migration Displacement Tracking Matrix, showed that there are 3,725,593 internally displaced persons, IDPs, now scattered across about 3,900 camps and settlements nationwide.
According to the report, Zamfara is hosting 276,887 IDPs in 9 camps as of March 2026, while , Benue State hosts over 500,000 internally displaced persons, making it one of the worst-hit states.
In Taraba State, about 90,000 displaced persons are currently sheltered in eight camps located in Peva and Kufai Ahmadu in Chanchanji Ward of Takum LGA.
The report said that the crisis has largely been driven by insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, farmer–herder conflicts in the North-Central, and communal clashes in parts of the South.
It further said that Nigeria’s 3.726 million displaced population is larger than the population of at least 63 countries whose populations are under 3.7 million, according to United Nations population estimates.
Among countries with fewer than 3.7 million people are Uruguay (3.4m), Jamaica (2.8m), Qatar (2.7m), Namibia (2.6m) and Botswana (2.6m).
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Atiku’s Media Aide, Ifeanyi Izeze is Dead
The media office said that further details about Izeze’s burial would be made public by his family.
Atiku Media Office has announced the death of Ifeanyi Izeze, a member of the media team of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In the statement , Izeze a prominent and pioneer member of the ex-VP’s media team died on Sunday.
“Ifeanyi Izeze joined the media team of the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar in 2006, from Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot-Abasi as the Office Manager.
He brought to bear on the work of the media team at that critical stage of Atiku’s political career, his wealth of experience in the media, Niger Delta and Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Izeze trained as a geologist at the University of Port Harcourt up to postgraduate level, but carved a niche in journalism where he reported and wrote extensively on oil and gas industry in Nigeria for many years in the defunct Sunray, Anchor, and NewAge newspapers among others, before he joined ALSCON.
In the Atiku Media Office, Ifeanyi was a senior member of the team and its pioneer Office Manager who helped shape the campaign policies of the Atiku Presidential Campaigns in the Niger Delta, particularly in the oil and gas sectors,” the statement further reads.
Atiku Media Office described the deceased as a man with a prodigious sense of humour and a born-again Christian of the Christ Embassy.
The media office said that further details about Izeze’s burial would be made public by his family.
He left behind children, grandchildren and an elder and only surviving brother, Pastor Emeka Izeze of the Guardian Newspapers fame
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