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The release of The Herd, a new crime thriller now streaming on Netflix, has stirred one of the most intense debates Nollywood has witnessed this year. What was expected to be another gripping addition to Nigeria’s expanding thriller catalogue has instead become the centre of a storm, with viewers sharply divided over how the film portrays Fulani herders.
Directed by Daniel Etim-Effiong, The Herd unfolds around a couple whose elaborate wedding celebration in south-west Nigeria is violently interrupted. Midway through the joyful procession, gunmen disguised as cattle herders ambush the convoy, pushing the newlyweds—and their guests—into a terrifying battle for survival. The abrupt transition from festivity to brutality drives the film’s tension, but it is this very plot point that has drawn a wave of criticism online.
On X, the conversation has been especially charged. Many critics argue that the movie leans into a harmful narrative by linking criminal brutality with Fulani herders—an ethnic group already subject to deep public suspicion amid Nigeria’s security challenges. Leading the opposition is Bashir Ahmad, a former presidential aide, who penned a detailed post condemning what he described as “a dangerous profiling of an ethnic group.”
Ahmad insisted that the film’s attack sequence “paints a picture that is dangerously inaccurate,” warning that the depiction risks entrenching damaging stereotypes. He further argued that such portrayals could escalate tensions, embolden prejudice, and create a global impression that unfairly associates the Fulani community with terrorism. In addition to his criticism, he called on the Nigerian Film Corporation, headed by Ali Nuhu, to review the movie’s content and address what he sees as a potentially harmful artistic choice.
Investigative journalist David Hundeyin also weighed in, offering a more cryptic take. Commenting on the film’s timing and its release on an American platform, he remarked, “Incredible timing by an American platform. But that’s probably just a conspiracy theory, you see.” His remark added yet another layer to the already heated discussion.
Despite the uproar, not everyone sees the film as problematic. A considerable number of viewers have defended The Herd, arguing that it reflects the current realities of insecurity rather than attacking Fulani identity. One user countered the criticism by stating that the movie does not vilify an entire ethnic group but instead “exposed armed Fulani terrorists who are attacking Nigerians,” suggesting that the film mirrors situations reported in various parts of the country.
The debate over the film coincides with a troubling escalation in violent attacks nationwide. Nigeria has, in recent weeks, been rattled by a surge in banditry and mass abductions. On Friday, gunmen invaded St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, kidnapping students and staff in an early-morning raid. This incident came on the heels of the November 17 abduction of 25 female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State.
Adding to the chaos, a viral video surfaced on Tuesday showing armed men storming a branch of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Oke Isegun, Eruku community, Kwara State. These recurring incidents—along with numerous unreported attacks—have heightened public fear and frustration.
Against this backdrop of insecurity, The Herd has unintentionally become a mirror reflecting Nigeria’s fractured discourse. For some, the film is an uncomfortable reminder of the real violence plaguing many communities. For others, it crosses a line by tying criminal behaviour too closely to an already misunderstood ethnic group.
Whether the controversy will affect the film’s reception remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: The Herd has opened a conversation far larger than its storyline, one that touches on identity, national tension, and the responsibility of storytellers in a country still struggling to heal.
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One minute they're celebrating love, the next they're fighting for their lives. The Herd is now playing on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/p1SBl3Ucht
— Netflix Nigeria (@NetflixNaija) November 21, 2025
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