(MENAFN) A preview event for Nigeria’s Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City was halted on Sunday after protesters stormed the campus, forcing organisers to escort guests to safety ahead of the museum’s official opening on Tuesday.

Videos from the scene showed demonstrators confronting foreign visitors and ordering them to leave. The museum, a multi-million-dollar facility in Edo state, was partly designed to house the Benin Bronzes, artefacts looted by British forces in the 19th century. Its campus includes modern preservation and restoration facilities.

The protest appears to have been fueled by a dispute over control of the Bronzes, which are not yet housed at the museum. A local resident told reports that frustration stems from what many view as a hijacking of an Edo-led project, noting that traditional authorities and the Edo government were unhappy with developments.

Originally, the museum’s name included “Edo,” but this was later dropped. Executive Director Phillip Ihenacho explained that the backers intended the museum to have a broader purpose beyond Nigeria. MOWAA described the protest as “stemming from disputes between the previous and current state administrations” and emphasised that it is an independent, non-profit organisation, with no financial involvement from a former state governor who had supported the project.

All preview events have now been cancelled, and visitors are advised to avoid the site until the situation is resolved. MOWAA expressed gratitude to guests for their understanding and apologised for the disruption, stating: “We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may have caused.”

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