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Pan-Igbo group calls for return of stolen artifacts

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By Adeola Ogunlade

A Pan-Igbo religious body, ÌgbakÍ Odinani Worldwide, has lent its voice to the call by the Federal Government for the return of two sacred artifacts sold in France by Christie Auction House for  US$240,000.

The wooden artifacts were looted from indigenous Igbo altars by treasure hunters, under the guise of Christian evangelism many years ago. At the same auction, an Urhobo artifact was also on sale for $1million.

Speaking with reporters, the leader of the organisation, Nze Chibueze Onyido, said his group was prepared to partner the Federal Government to ensure that sacred artifacts stolen from their shrines by criminals masquerading as clerics and sold abroad are returned to their original communities as its part of their history and spirituality.

He decried what he described as ‘pure hypocrisy’ on the part of some pastors who, on one hand, condemn their own Igbo religion as evil, but on the other hand steal from same altars to enrich themselves.

The group’s Secretary-General Dike Agbaja said the organisation had started initiating court action against churches and individuals who desecrated and looted Ìdinani Igbo altars as this constituted a breach of freedom of worship and destruction of national treasure.

He noted that his organisation resorted to legal actions to calm restive Ìdenane and Óménàlà youths who had vowed to also burn down churches in retaliation.

“We are involved in such a court case in Amåaka Town in Imo State,”  Ugbaja said.

The National Commission for Museums and Monuments has long pressured European nations to return sacred and precious artifacts looted from various indigenous Nigerian altars. Despite this, these artifacts continue to find their way into European museums illegally.

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