The Benin State, History and Art. As early as January 1897 a name was already being suggested in England for what the British hoped would be their final take over what they termed the ‘Oil Rivers’. The name was ‘Nigeria’ and the Oil Rivers Protectorate was after the palm oil laden lands of Niger Delta belonging principally to the Benin Kingdom. The Oba of Benin held great influence and prevented the British ‘Royal Niger Company’ from forming a monopoly in the region. Since the so-called ‘scramble for Africa’ of 1884, Benin was a target for the colonial efforts of Britain. By the following February the British would invade the administrative center of the kingdom, Benin City, on the pretext of retaliation over the ambush of an ‘unarmed and friendly’ visit, and on February 18 1897 set the city on fire, burning as much as they could and looting works of arts and sacred documents and courtly objects directly from the palace of the Oba of Benin in the ancient city Benin City. Shortly after,