Movie Review: ‘The Herd’ Offers A Powerful Look At Nigeria’s Banditry Crisis
With The Herd, Daniel Etim Effiong delivers one of Nollywood’s boldest and most thought-provoking crime dramas in recent years.
The film, now on Netflix, paints an uncompromising picture of a country battling the fear, politics, and moral failures surrounding banditry. It blends personal loss with national pain in a way that feels both cinematic and urgently relevant.
Set in Ekiti, the film draws its tension from the contradictions within Nigerian society—communities living under constant threats from criminal groups, weak institutions struggling to cope, and families pushed into impossible situations. Rather than simply telling a story, Effiong challenges the systems that allow disorder and corruption to thrive.
The film opens on what should have been a joyful day. Gosi, played by Effiong himself, tries to set aside worry over his wife Adama’s recurring health scare so he can celebrate his friend Fola’s wedding to Derin. But things take a dark turn on the road to the hotel.
What first appears to be a regular traffic jam caused by herders quickly turns into something far more dangerous. The group on the road turns out to be a kidnapping gang, pulling Gosi, the newlyweds, and others into a frightening ordeal. The tension builds as the kidnappers become increasingly violent, leaving the victims in fear for their lives and forcing them into difficult choices.
Genoveva Umeh’s performance as Derin is one of the film’s standout moments. Her shock, grief, and determination feel painfully real. Gosi’s attempts to protect her—while trying to keep both of them alive—form the emotional core of the film.
Effiong’s strength as a storyteller shines in how he mirrors real issues facing Nigeria. The criminals in the film come from different ethnic backgrounds, rejecting the idea that banditry belongs to one group.
The gang uses religion when convenient but has no real moral boundaries. The film avoids stereotypes and instead highlights how crime networks grow out of greed, opportunity, and weak systems.
ALSO READ: Why Last Samurai Standing Is Netflix’s Must-Watch Action Series
A major thread of the story follows Adama, played by Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, as she tries to gather ransom money. Her challenges—a slow banking process, judgmental in-laws, and discovering that her husband quietly withdrew large sums from his business—reveal how social pressures and class issues shape people’s reactions during crises.
The film also explores cultural prejudice through Adama’s status as Osu in Igbo tradition. Her husband’s parents, played by Nobert Young and Tina Mba, agree to help only after forcing her to sign a document promising to leave their son later. It highlights how deeply rooted cultural practices continue to affect people’s lives.
Unlike many Nollywood films that portray law enforcement as confused or helpless, The Herd presents a more layered police investigation led by Adam Garba. A smart detail comes from a call made from the groom’s Apple Watch by a relative abroad, which becomes a key lead for the police.
Other discoveries tie the criminal activities to surprising places, even involving trusted community figures. These moments emphasize the film’s message that wrongdoing can hide behind respected institutions.
Even seemingly harmless characters are not what they appear. Mama Rainbow’s elderly neighbor role becomes vital when it is revealed she passes information to the criminals. The film repeatedly shows that trust is fragile.
Internal conflict within the gang is just as dangerous as their crimes. When their leader demands most of the ransom, tensions escalate until one of his own men turns against him. This twist reinforces the idea that their operations are driven by greed, not ideology.
The visuals tell their own story—from the bride’s ruined wedding dress to Gosi’s torn clothes—showing how quickly celebration collapses into survival.
The casting is intentional, featuring actors from major ethnic groups on both sides of the conflict, reinforcing the idea that Nigeria’s struggles affect everyone.
Effiong gives a steady, believable performance. Umeh is gripping and emotional. Blessing Jessica Obasi-Nze provides warmth as the corps member who refuses to lose hope. Amal Umar’s portrayal of Habiba, calm yet intimidating, is memorable.
If the film falters, it is in its ending. Though Gosi and Derin are eventually rescued, the story leaves viewers unsure about the fate of others. Some may find the abruptness unsatisfying, while others may see it as a reflection of how real-life tragedies in Nigeria often end without full resolution.
The Herd is a courageous and unsettling film.
It forces viewers to confront the real drivers of banditry—not ethnic blame, not political slogans, but a mix of fear, power, and broken systems. Effiong’s blend of suspense, realism, and ethical tension makes this one of Nollywood’s strongest crime thrillers in recent memory.
ALSO READ: Where To Watch Jackie Chan’s New Movie ‘The Shadow’s Edge’
