According to Bashir Ahmad, former presidential aide to former late President Muhammadu Buhari, has voiced concerns regarding the Netflix film ‘The Herd,’ directed by Daniel Etim-Effiong, which premiered on the platform on November 21, 2025, following a successful theatrical run grossing over 188 million naira.
In a post on his verified X account on Saturday November 22, 2025, Ahmad argued that the film’s portrayal risks profiling an entire ethnic group amid Nigeria’s ongoing insecurity issues. The movie, a thriller centered on a newlywed couple kidnapped by bandits during their journey, draws from real-life abductions and incorporates cultural elements such as the Igbo caste system.
Ahmad mphasized that the criticism stems not from denying banditry but from the potential for harmful generalizations about the Fulani community, which has suffered significantly from such violence.The film’s teaser depicts Fulani herders crossing a road with cattle before abruptly drawing guns, shooting indiscriminately, and abducting travelers, including the couple.
This scene, according to Ahmad, presents a simplistic and inaccurate narrative that equates routine herding activities with criminality. Reviews describe the movie as tense and brutal, reflecting Nigeria’s kidnapping epidemic, with bandits often disguising themselves as herdsmen in the plot.
However, public reactions on X highlight a divide: some viewers see it as mirroring personal experiences of abductions by groups speaking Fulani, while others contend it overlooks the distinction between criminals and innocent pastoralists.
Ahmad acknowledged that some bandits involved in terrorizing communities are Fulani, a fact that has been publicly condemned with calls for authorities to act decisively. Nevertheless, he noted that the majority of Fulani herders are innocent victims themselves, having lost livestock, livelihoods, and family members to the same perpetrators.
This perspective aligns with reports from pastoralist associations, which describe herders facing attacks, cattle rustling, and profiling in conflict zones across northern and central Nigeria. Incidents such as herdsmen blocking highways or invading farms have fueled tensions, but distinctions between criminal acts and traditional grazing practices are often blurred in media narratives.
The influence of film and media in shaping perceptions, particularly of underrepresented communities, is significant, as Ahmad pointed out.
By offering a one-dimensional portrayal, ‘The Herd’ may reinforce stereotypes, leading global audiences to view all Fulani herders as threats, potentially exacerbating discrimination and violence against innocents. Critics have noted the film’s relevance amid recent abductions in states like Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger, yet some argue it simplifies complex security dynamics involving resource conflicts and militias.
Ultimately, the goal is to narrate stories that condemn criminals without implicating entire groups, as Nigeria grapples with multifaceted challenges like banditry and division. This approach could foster understanding rather than deepen stereotypes in a nation already strained by insecurity. View, More,
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