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The Nigerian “End SARS” counter protest and the monumental destruction of cultural heritage

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2022

Afolasade A. Adewumi Open the ORCID record for Afolasade A. Adewumi [Opens in a new window]  and
John Oluwole A. Akintayo
Afolasade A. Adewumi*
Affiliation:
Senior Lecturer, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
John Oluwole A. Akintayo
Affiliation:
Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
*
Corresponding author: Afolasade A. Adewumi, email: sade_abidemi@yahoo.com; aaa.adewumi@gmail.com
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Abstract

This research responds to the recent destruction of cultural heritage in Nigeria during the protest against police brutality meted out on the populace by a unit of the Nigerian police force known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad. This article uncovers issues implicated in the destruction of the Iga Idunganran, a national monument. Through a survey questionnaire, the article determines the perceptions of people about African traditional religion and the knowledge of people about the value and significance of heritage loss occasioned by the recent destruction of the palace. Findings reveal that many Nigerians are unaware of the value and significance of the palace as heritage that is essential to societal development. Many Nigerians are suffering from an identity crisis because of colonization. The Nigerian government has not fulfilled its role in protecting cultural heritage. The Nigerian government needs to put structures in place to implement its commitment at the national level.

Keywords

Civil unrestidentity crisisheritage destructionNigeria1954 Hague Convention and Protocol II
Type
Article
Information
International Journal of Cultural Property , Volume 29 , Issue 1 , February 2022 , pp. 81 - 97
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International Cultural Property Society

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