The European Union and other international partners have urged Nigerian authorities to handle sensitive matters with greater diplomacy to preserve ties with global counterparts.
Gautier Mignot, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, issued the call while responding to the disruption of a preview event at the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City. The session was interrupted by a group of menacing-looking Edo youths staging what they described as a protest.
Mr Mignot, on a private visit ahead of the museum’s official inauguration, condemned the protesters’ actions as “barbaric and uncivilised”. He described the incident as a “horrible” experience, particularly within a world-class cultural institution poised to elevate Edo State’s international profile.
“It was deeply alarming to witness fierce-looking young men, apparently supported by police, harassing guests and halting the event,” the ambassador said. “They insisted MOWAA was not an Edo-owned project but a regional initiative representing West Africa.”
He stressed that disputes should be resolved through dialogue, not intimidation, especially in a landmark venue with the potential to attract investment and tourism.
This marked Mr Mignot’s second visit to Edo State. He noted that the EU had previously supported local efforts to reintegrate returned migrants into society.
Commenting on Nigeria’s broader security challenges, the ambassador expressed sympathy, adding: “We remain hopeful that the country will soon overcome this difficult phase.”
