A private art exhibition in Benin City, Edo State, descended into chaos on Sunday November 9th when armed assailants stormed the Museum of West African Art , MOWAA, threatening and trapping high-profile foreign dignitaries and investors.
The event, a private preview attended by select investors, artists, and international representatives, including the European Union, EU, Ambassador to Nigeria, the French Ambassador, and the Danish Ambassador, was violently disrupted when a mob forcefully entered the museum.
According to witnesses, the attackers claimed the museum belonged to the Oba of Benin and arrived armed, assaulting individuals and damaging property in an attempt to reach the secure area where guests were seated.
Security personnel and event organizers acted quickly to protect the attendees, containing the situation until law enforcement could intervene.
Despite these efforts, the incident exposed serious vulnerabilities in the safety of cultural institutions and raised pressing concerns about security and rule of law in Edo State.
The brazen attack on a gathering that included foreign envoys has sparked widespread condemnation locally and internationally. Calls are mounting for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible.
Eyewitnesses described the scene as pandemonium, with some guests fearing for their lives as the armed mob attempted to assert control over the museum.
Organizers are now reviewing security protocols for future events, while authorities have pledged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
