Oxford University may return items looted from Nigeria by Britain in 1897

University council supports claim for 97 artefacts, including bronzes, currently held in city's museums

Oxford University could return almost 100 artefacts that were looted by British colonial forces in 1897, after Nigeria requested the repatriation of the cultural items this year.

The 97 objects, including bronzes, were taken from Benin City by British troops and are currently held in the collections of the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.