President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged Oba Ewuare II of Benin, Edo State, and the palace to ensure safe keep of the returned Benin artefacts from the United Kingdom (UK).

President Buhari said this in Benin during the return of the two artefacts to the royal father in his palace.

The President, who was represented by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to UK, Sarafa Isola, noted that the return of the artefacts was a breakthrough.

Isola said it was a breakthrough because Nigeria and other African countries were working to repossess their artworks currently domiciled abroad.

“Our part is to ensure that these highly-prized objects are preserved in accordance with global best practices.

“This will undoubtedly assist in the sustained campaign to return and repossess the remaining Benin artefacts as well as other Nigerian and African artefacts domiciled across the globe currently.

“I have the privilege to legally transfer the two repossessed Benin artefacts, the conqueror bronze statue cockerel, Okpa, and an ancestral head, Uhunwun Elao to the Oba of Benin on behalf of the President and we are also doing the legal transfer,” he said.

The high commissioner said the sovereignty of the artefacts, which were taken away from Benin kingdom in 1897, was vested in the kingdom, under the then Oba Onveramen Nogbaise.

According to him, the sovereignty is now vested in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the constitution, to transfer the artifacts to the palace of Oba of Benin.