What began as a serene Sunday morning celebrating art, culture, and international collaboration turned chaotic when armed thugs violently disrupted a private exhibition hosted by the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City.
The event, a private preview for select investors, artists, and international dignitaries, descended into pandemonium when the group forcefully stormed the venue, claiming the museum “belonged to the Oba of Benin.” Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants wielded weapons, assaulted individuals on site, and caused property damage in a bid to reach the secure area where guests were seated.
Among those trapped during the incident were the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, as well as the French and Danish Ambassadors. Other attendees included foreign investors and cultural figures, all of whom were caught in the chaos as security personnel scrambled to contain the situation until law enforcement arrived.
