BEVERLY HILLS, February 26, (THEWILL) – The Mexican government has delivered to Nigeria an ancient bronze sculpture seized by customs agents at Mexico City airport as its buyer tried to bring it into this country.
The sculpture, from the 6th century southwestern Yoruba city of Ile-Ife, shows a man wearing woven pants and a hat, sitting with his legs crossed and holding an instrument.
“Specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History determined that it was a piece of Yoruba origin,” Diego Prieto, head of the agency, told a press conference.
“It was also determined that it had been illegally exported,” the Mexican foreign ministry said.
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Nigerian Ambassador Aminu Iyawa acknowledged the work of the Mexican authorities in recovering the sculpture.
According to the Government of Mexico official website, the customs authorities of the International Airport of Mexico City detected it when its buyer tried to introduce it to the country.
