terracotta figurines of civilization Nok, Nigeria returned to the U.S. Customs police
Source: nigeriavillagesquare.com

In late July, Immigration and Customs Police formally handed over U.S. Consul General of Nigeria in New York York Habib Baba Habu (Habib Baba Habu) 10 terracotta figurines period of civilization Knock (age about 2000 years).

Neither Consul General of Nigeria, neither the American police told the press, under what circumstances, the artifacts left Nigeria. It is known that the sculptures were removed to the U.S. Customs office in the spring of 2010. New York customs officials have warned their counterparts from France, when the transit through their country in the U.S. were sent to eight terracotta Knock period of unknown origin. In New York, the suspicious cargo was detained immediately. Another two terra-cotta and decorated with ivory carvings were removed earlier at the airport in Chicago.

Within two years, according to a Customs and Border Protection United States, was under investigation as to who is "eligible owner "sculptures. Consul General Habib Baba Habu said that perhaps things were stolen from the National Museum in Lagos, Nigeria. However, no signs of the missing pieces from the museum have been reported. In connection with this investigation is conducted of the general director of the museum. According to another version, the Nigerian artefacts could be extracted from the field of illegal excavations, archaeologists are being black in the north. In the two years was not made any arrests in connection with the smuggling of artifacts. In this story a lot of dark spots, but a positive fact, repatriation is still there. Such is not true of other US-Nigerian proceedings, in the center which also turned out to be African antiquity. Not so long ago Nigerian government has once again demanded the return of the bronze artefacts of Benin kingdom, caught in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston . But, apparently, the U.S. authorities distinguish between the concept of theft that occurred in the nineteenth century, and theft in recent years. In the case of the Benin bronzes, who left Nigeria in the distant 1897, supporters hope to repatriate especially not on that.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Source: artinvestment.ru