Mexican authorities on Tuesday February 25, returned an ancient sculpture from 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ile-Ife to Nigeria.
The sculpture which shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument, was seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport as its buyer tried to bring it into the South-American country.
“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin.
“A beautiful bronze piece, and that being of Nigerian heritage, it should return to its home.”
“It was also determined that it had been illegally exported.”
Nigerian Ambassador, Aminu Iyawa also thanked the Mexican authorities over their effort in recovering the sculpture.
