Assessing Looting and Illicit Trafficking of Archaeological Artefacts in Ebonyi State

Illicit excavation and trafficking of archaeological artefacts pose a severe and growing threat to Nigeria's cultural heritage, yet the problem remains inadequately studied at the state level. This study assesses the scale, drivers, and impacts of artefact looting in Ebonyi State, drawing on field observation of disturbed sites, interviews with local authorities, community members, and law enforcement officers, and a review of available customs and NSCDC seizure records. The research identifies eleven localities in Ebonyi where unauthorized excavation has been observed within the past five years, with recovered materials including terracotta figurines, iron objects, and decorated ceramics consistent with pre-colonial occupation horizons. Informant testimony indicates that most looted material enters informal markets in Abakaliki before being transported to Lagos or Abuja for onward sale to international dealers. The study situates these findings within the global literature on cultural property crime, referencing recent frameworks developed by INTERPOL, UNESCO, and the African Union for combating heritage trafficking. Analysis of motivating factors reveals that economic marginalization, weak enforcement capacity, and low community awareness of heritage laws are the principal drivers of looting in the state. The research recommends strengthening collaboration between the NCMM, state government, and community vigilance groups, and advocates for heritage education programmes in secondary schools across Ebonyi. Keywords: artefact looting, heritage trafficking, Ebonyi State, cultural property crime, heritage protection.