Actor Daniel Etim-Effiong’s new movie The Herd has stirred conversations online following its release.
The film, which opened in cinemas on October 17 and is now streaming on Netflix, forces Nigerians to confront a truth many would rather avoid. Its depiction of kidnapping mirrors tragedies that continue to dominate national headlines.
Featuring Daniel Etim-Effiong, Deyemi Okanlawon, Genoveva Umeh, Kunle Remi, Mercy Aigbe, Tina Mba, Lateef Adedimeji and Nobert Young, The Herd anchors its story in familiar faces while giving room for lesser-known talents to shine with unsettling realism.
The story begins in celebration: newlyweds Derin and Fola are desperate to escape pushy family members and hit the road with their best man, Gosi (played by Daniel Etim-Effiong). Their joy is short-lived. A violent ambush on the highway sends them and other unsuspecting travellers into the tight grip of kidnappers.
Gosi manages a narrow escape, but his luck quickly runs out. Cornered at a dead end near a large body of water, he is captured. Fola dies while attempting to flee, and Derin is ordered by the sadistic Yakubu (Ibrahim Abubakar) to mutilate her husband’s body, a task Gosi painfully carries out on her behalf.
Back home, families scramble to raise a N50 million ransom as police detectives in Ekiti attempt to track the gang. Meanwhile, Gosi’s wife faces a different battle: illness, judgmental relatives and the crushing burden of raising ransom money alone.
The movie has stirred reactions online. See reactions:
