119 antiquated sculptures taken from the former Nigerian kingdom of Benin during the colonial era have been returned to the Netherlands.
The artefacts were “embodiments of the spirit and identity of the people from which they were taken from,” according to Olugbile Holloway, director-general of Nigeria’s National Commission for Museums and Monuments, on Saturday.
At a ceremony held at the National Museum in Lagos, he said, “We only ask of the world for fairness, dignity, and respect.”
Germany, according to Holloway, also agreed to return more than 1, 000 additional pieces.
As pressure mounts on Western governments to return items stolen during imperialism, the Benin Bronzes are the most recent examples of this region’s rich history.
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, the traditional ruler of the Kingdom of Benin in southern Nigeria, will receive the rest of the artefacts while four are on display in the museum’s courtyard and will remain in the museum’s permanent collection.
Bronze sculptures from the 16th through the 18th centuries are included in the Benin Bronzes.
When British forces under Sir Henry Rawson’s command ransacked the Benin kingdom in modern-day southern Nigeria in 1897, forcing the monarch, Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, into a six-month exile, the items were taken.
Nigeria formally requested the return of hundreds of objects from museums around the world in 2022. About 72 objects from a London museum were returned in the same year, and 31 from Rhode Island, in the United States.
In broad daylight by a group posing as passers-by, Selina Scott has revealed she was the victim of a calculated street robbery in central London.
ITV star, 74, ‘traumatised’ after assault and robbery in daylight by London gang(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott has revealed she was assaulted and robbed in a frightening daylight ambush in central London. The former ITV News at Ten presenter, 74, recounted being surrounded and attacked by a group of up to eight people as she exited a Waterstones near Piccadilly.
Initial appearances of the assailants, who are described as wearing expensive sportswear and posing as East Asian, appeared to be regular people passing by before suddenly closing in. She wrote in the Mail on Sunday, “I was right by a busy bus stop, though no one would have known what was happening.” In the middle of a crowd, it was slick, brief, and clearly planned.
Scott claimed that she was boxed in after being struck behind the knee after initially believing she had been stabbed. Another group rammed into her from the other side as she clung ferociously to her designer backpack. She claimed that “I was being attacked at the same time from both sides.”
Veteran broadcaster Selina Scott has revealed she was assaulted and robbed(Image: Getty Images)
The attackers managed to unzip the bag, which contained her purse, cash, cards, and driving license, despite resisting and holding onto it. After what has occurred, I still feel shattered. She said, “I can’t believe it happened to me.”
She is still battling her emotions despite the ordeal. Although I’m mentally resilient and physically fit, she said that if they could attack me in such a violent way, they could also attack anyone. You leave feeling stupid because you somehow let it happen, not just traumatized, but stupid.
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Scott, who famously interviewed Donald Trump during her long career in journalism, expressed outrage over what she sees as a visible absence of law enforcement in the capital.
Selina says she has been left ‘traumatised’(Image: Daily Record)
She claimed that she saw no officer as she walked through some of London’s busiest, most dangerous neighborhoods. “I’m also angry that our streets don’t have police. The gang who attacked me feels like they are a piece of the puzzle because they know no one will stop them.
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The Metropolitan Police responded to the incident by defending their presence in the area, stating: “While we understand that the victim was frustrated that she couldn’t see any police officers on the street, a significant number of officers patrol the West End every day – not just in uniform on foot, but also in plain clothes and in vehicles to have the best opportunity to identify and apprehend suspects. We would be happy to talk to the victim to better understand her concerns.”
Scott claimed she was ultimately relieved that the gang had not used a knife but that the experience has left her deeply uneasy. It was obvious that this was a coordinated assault because it occurred so quickly and frequently, she said.
The killing of some of the state’s indigenous people by a suspected mob in the Plateau State’s Mangu Local Government Area has been condemned by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani.
When the victims were apprehended by the mob in the Mangun district, they were said to be leaving Zaria in Kaduna State for a wedding in Plateau State’s Quan Pan Local Government Area.
During the attack, several other people suffered various injuries, with the travelers instantly dead.
Governor Sani called on security forces to immediately detain and prosecute those responsible for the attack in a statement while expressing shock and sadness over such a barbaric act.
He vowed that the Kaduna State Government would not leave any stone unturned until the criminals were detained and tried in court.
We must put an end to non-state actors’ nefarious activities, the governor remarked. In any location in the nation, there is no justification for anyone to attack a Nigerian citizen. This mania must end. It’s enough, enough is enough.
Also read: Mob kills eight wedding-bound travelers in Plateau.
Governor Sani urged Caleb Mutfwang to use the unfortunate incident to make a bold statement by directing security agencies’ operations until the murderers are brought to justice using the unfortunate incident.
To send a clear message that impunity will no longer be tolerated, the governor made a promise to personally monitor the progress made in the investigations and field operations aimed at the criminals.
He urged the people of Kaduna State to remain calm, saying that all efforts would be made to bring justice to the victims.
Sani also offered comfort to the victims’ families as they grieved the loss of their loved ones.
He continued, “We have made remarkable progress in Kaduna State’s peacebuilding and transformation.” A toxic environment can be transformed into an “oasis of peace” with political will, commitment, and sincerity of purpose, as demonstrated by the Kaduna Peace Model.
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Stephan Shemilt
Headingley’s Chief Cricket Reporter
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At Headingley on Saturday. fancy attire On the Western Terrace, a group of clergymen took their place.
Ollie Pope might have been a part of the universe they were watching from the sidelines. Perhaps Jacob Bethell never put his place in danger.
If Ben Stokes had jumped at the chance to keep his vice-captain at number three for the first Test against India, Pope had chosen the ideal time to play the appreciative disciple.
Pope’s century, which came after Stokes’ Stokes gave the captain a chance to escape purgatory, saw England bat first in a score of 209-3, 262 behind India’s 471.
Ben Duckett, who made 62 in a stand of 122 with Pope, said, “It sums up and demonstrates why he’s England number three.”
Any debate between Pope and Bethell is absurd, in the end, there is a case. While Bethell has never scored a century in professional cricket, Pope increased his average to 45.19 on Saturday, making him England’s first-drop.
Numbers alone cannot accurately represent the entire picture. Pope’s stats reveal a feast-or-famine career: only six of his previous 98 Test knocks resulted in 34% of his runs. Pope can act nervous and skittishly when he’s on the field. Bethell, who is calm, appears to be destined for international success.
Stokes ended the discussion on Thursday by referring to the May 171 Pope’s attack on Zimbabwe. Without ever going into more detail about what might have transpired if Pope had failed at Trent Bridge, Stokes claimed it would have been “remarkable” to leave him out after such a long innings.
“A dressing room makes noise outside, but there is no noise inside,” Duckett said.
“We’re not talking about who will play,” he said. Coming into this Test match, it seemed pretty obvious that if a guy had scored 171 a few weeks ago, he would play this one.
England and India are two teams that England face in 10 crucial Tests during the Stokes era, and Pope acknowledged the need to improve his performance against them.
One of the all-time great innings by an Englishman overseas was his 196 against India in Hyderabad at the beginning of last year, but he has also produced subpar results against the world’s two biggest teams.
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The best bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah, was the main obstacle to breaking that record. The violent incident that Bumrah used to dismiss Pope in Visakhapatnam 18 months ago led to the need for a health warning.
Bumrah had everything in his favor on Saturday. Floodlights and a moody sky as he stutters down the slope. Pope arrived at the crease with a score of 4-1 when Zak Crawley was edged inside out.
What followed was a bravery, perseverance, and determination display. The best century Pope has ever had in a home test, not quite the heights of Hyderabad, but it was undoubtedly his third in a row.
What batter would need fortune when Bumrah bowls with such potency? Every delivery was risk-filled, and the paceman was truly magnificent.
When Pope and Duckett were heading toward the same end, Pope edged Bumrah between third slip and gully when he had 10 and could have run out on 15.
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Pope displayed a serenity that hasn’t been present for him in the past. Yes, there were still some ugly ball shots and a high 27-feeb false-shot percentage, but those were mixed with good judgment.
Pope was quick to react when India’s line went a little off the mark when he crossed his stumps. The majority of his runs were scored behind square on the other side, but he also tucked in from his pads. The Surrey man didn’t score anything in the “V” down the field.
Former England captain Alastair Cook testified on Test Match Special, “He undoubtedly played with the most control in the way he played Bumrah.”
He later played the ball, not knowing whether it was a conscious choice. He appeared much less agitated.
The longest day of the year moved play past 7pm as the sun set and the close approached. Bumrah summoned for one more solo effort, Pope on 99.
Pope leapt in celebration as an inside edge trickled to his square leg. He greeted the Western Terrace audience with applause before saluting the dressing room.
The clergymen had been waiting for the moment. They recognized their Pope and sped away from the building.
When Joe Root edged Bumrah to first slip, they would have been hardly ever seen down the stairs, and Harry Brook was the only one to be saved by a Bumrah no-ball.
The chance for a Sunday service to carry out England’s fightback is still up for grabs.
After his ex, Nicoline Artursson, broke her silence regarding his suspended jail sentence, James Argent joined Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Fordham to celebrate their wedding day.
At their wedding, James Argent and Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Fordham were guests.
James Argent looked like butter wouldn’t melt as he posed alongside his good friends Georgia Kousoulou and Tommy Fordham at their wedding – weeks after being convicted of domestic abuse. The 37-year-old reality star was a guest at the nuptials of the former The Only Way Is Essex stars.
Georgia, 34, and Tommy, 33, celebrated the knot in a second, more lavish ceremony this week after their first one in December 2023. The bride and groom posted romantic photos of their wedding on Saturday on social media.
The pair shared details of their big day on Friday in Spain, with Tommy looking smart in a sand-colored suit and Georgia looking stunning in her flawless wedding dress.
The couple wrote in a joint post: “20.06.2025. The day our dreams come true, and we finally had the wedding. surrounded by a great deal of love. Can’t wait to see all of our photos and videos back to show you how amazing it was and how you can watch it all.
After the couple shared their happy news, it appeared that everyone who attended the event also shared photos of the festivities, and James was one of the attendees who uploaded the photos himself.
The disgraced actor shared images from the wedding of the reality stars.
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The disgraced actor wrote “My Best Friend’s Wedding” in a post on his main page. Congratulations to @iamtommyfordham and @georgiakousoulou.
We all spent more than ten years together in Ibiza, and I’ll never forget that. You and I both knew each other was destined to meet. You have remained steadfast by each other’s side despite the thick and the thin.
Tommy always promised to sing at their wedding, and it did, according to Arg. You both have always supported me, and I had a great time being your Master of Ceremonies.
James yelled in the photos
I love you both so much, and I can’t wait to create many more memories with you as we get older. Because he had a limited audience, “Arg’s post received a wall of support from famous friends.”
Georgia herself was among those replying, typing: “Love you” alongside a single red heart emoji. While former Towie star Ferne McCann also typed “Love” alongside a string of red heart emojis.
After pushing his now-ex-partner Nicoline Artursson down concrete stairs at a property in Spain, Arg disgusted fans last month. After entering a plea deal and pleading guilty to a lesser crime of “mistreatment,” he was given a suspended sentence for his actions.
At the wedding, James was all smiles.
Nicoline has been regaining her power and declaring she won’t be silenced in the wake of the horrific incident, and she has been posting upbeat information online.
Last week she urged her followers to make sure they “partner with the right power” while sharing photographs of herself looking happy and smiling. In a moving Instagram post, she wrote: “Surround yourself with ONLY people who shares the motto of wanting to be their best extraordinary self with you and others.”
She continued, “There is a comeback laying before you in the midst of a setback.” I’m so fortunate and privileged to learn from @timstoreyofficial, a dear friend of ours.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouraging kindness and love, which will never be equal. I really appreciate you all.
The wedding day came a few weeks after it was revealed Arg left now e-girlfriend Nicoline Artursson bloodied and bruised(Image: real_arg/Instagram)
She continued, “Going through hardships, your focus will be put to a test.” It will be important where you shift your perspective.
This does not mean to suppress any feelings or emotions; rather, it means to go through them completely, no matter how difficult it may be. When things go well, people cheer each other on, and we support one another when things go wrong. So, gather us all together! Make sure to surround yourself with people who are genuine and compassionate and who care about you.
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“It’s so important to show others that life has a plan for them by guiding them through difficult situations as small as possible,” I said.
She continued, “Remember, we stand strongest together,” before closing her post. One follower wrote, “So pleased you have found peace after your horrific experience,” and the message was met with a wall of support.
In order to implement President Bola Tinubu’s call for the establishment of a peace committee to combat insecurity in the state, George Akume, the secretary to the government of the Federation (SGF), has begun consultations with traditional Benue leaders.
Akume visited the Tor Tiv James Ortese Ayatse and the Och’Idoma, John Elaigwu Odogbo, at their palaces in Makurdi and Otukpo, respectively, in a statement from Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, on Saturday.
Following his condolence and solidarity visit to the state on Wednesday following a deadly attack in Yelewata that reportedly claimed over 200 lives, the consultations were aimed at fine-tuning modalities for the president’s directive’s prompt implementation.
Both traditional rulers were informed of their appointment by President Tinubu to the Peace Committee by Senator Akume.
In light of the recent killings, SGF George Akume makes a visit to Benue.
He emphasized the need for swiftly forming a consensus-building process to create an inclusive and effective committee capable of restoring peace and stability to the troubled region.
The President, in his opinion, is deeply concerned about how the violence continues to affect Benue, the country’s main agricultural producer and key contributor to national food security.
In light of the recent killings, SGF George Akume makes a visit to Benue.
The SGF commended the royal fathers for their efforts to ensure that the traditional institution continues to be active in protecting local communities while welcoming the president during his recent visit.
Both the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma praised the Federal Government’s support for the peace-building process. Numerous well-known Benue figures accompanied the SGF on their visits.
Incessant killings
Benue area attacked as a result of new killings.
The Benue attacks were “a deliberate, well-planned, full-scale genocidal invasion and land-grabbing campaign by herder terrorists and bandits,” according to The Tor Tiv.
The rising death toll and destruction have sparked outrage and condemnation across the country. The most recent massacre in Yelewata, according to Pope Leo XIV, was a “terrible tragedy” and necessitated urgent intervention to put an end to the conflict.
A recent wave of violent attacks, frequently attributed to suspected herdsmen, have plagued the state. Numerous observers have attributed the current situation to nomadic pastoralists’ land disputes with indigenous farming communities.
Over 160 people have died in various communities over the past two months, just one of them. In one of the most recent incidents, a quick raid on Yelewata resulted in scores of murders and more than 3, 000 displacements. Civil society organizations insist that the death toll is more than 200, compared to 59 in government figures.
President Tinubu visited Benue on Wednesday to assess the security situation and express condolences to the victims in the midst of growing criticism from the opposition and human rights organizations.
To promote community-based reconciliation and restore stability, Tinubu announced the establishment of a Peace Committee made up of traditional rulers like the Tor Tiv and the Och’Idoma.
Tinubu is visiting the Yelwata attack victims in a hospital in Makurdi. State House is in the background.
The president urged security agencies to take a decisive stance at a stakeholder meeting held at the Government House in Makurdi.
“Police, I hope your men are listening for information,” the policeman said. Why hasn’t an arrest been made yet? According to Tinubu, I anticipate that those criminals will be apprehended.
The president continued, “Christopher, you have given a lot,” in a direct message to the Chief of Defence Staff and other senior officers. You can’t get tired of being in the bush, I hear you saying. We appreciate your hospitality, Oloyede and the Air Marshal, but we must maintain our ears on the ground. Get those criminals, folks. Let’s remove them.
He further instructed intelligence services to improve data collection and surveillance.
