[MSN] Benin chief seeks inquest on stolen $100m artefacts

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Benin chief seeks inquest on stolen $100m artefacts 
By Simon Ebegbulem
Posted to the Web: Thursday, October 04, 2007 



BENIN-A Benin high chief, Chief Sunday Emokpae, has appealed to the Federal
Government to urgently set up a panel to  investigate the alleged stealing
of artefacts estimated at over one hundred million dollars at the Benin
museum, saying that  such actions was capable of killing the cultural
heritage of the kingdom.

Chief Emokpae in a statement signed in Benin, yesterday, disclosed that "I
have written to the Director General of the  National Commission for Museums
and Monuments Abuja over the issue because we found out that the Commission
is not seriously  committed to the up keep and preservation of these
artifacts."

He advised that the "Presidency should go into this because of different
local and international visitors that may be willing  to pay visits to these
monuments to the constructions, patterns and the architectural prowess of
our forefathers at that  time.This include the contents of the monument and
above all the high sense of preservation whereby every thing is intact and
passed on to their descendants to this present day."

He further added that if such actions of some individuals were not stopped,
"that means we might end up not having any thing  to show for our culture.
Like in Chief Ogiamien's palace, there used to be a security operatives
before, but now it is not in  existence. Funds are not provided to the
family of Ogiamen to help see to the preservation of the monuments.

"We just have to find a way of securing our cultural inheritance because
that is what the Benin Kingdom is known for. The  government must come in
and assist in unearthing those that stole our artefacts in the Benin museum.
It must not be swept  under the carpet so that it will not continue" he
warned.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/niger_delta/nd404102007.html