A central theme of the controversy is the perceived hypocrisy and irony in the scale of the outrage. Many Nigerians are pointing out that a fictional film about kidnapping generated far more visible fury on social media from the Northern community than the actual mass abductions ravaging the region in real-time.
Recent Mass Kidnappings:
The film’s release coincided with a severe surge in real-life kidnappings, particularly in the North:
- Kebbi State Abduction: On November 18, 2025, just days before the Netflix premiere, gunmen attacked a secondary school in Maga town, Kebbi State, abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing the vice principal. 24 of those girls remain missing.
- Niger State Abduction: On November 21, 2025, the very day “The Herd” premiered on Netflix, armed men raided St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri, Niger State, abducting a staggering 303 students and 12 teachers. Following the attack, authorities in neighboring states ordered school closures as a precautionary measure. According to later reports, 50 students subsequently escaped, leaving 265 people still held captive at the time of the reports.
This contrast leads to the uncomfortable question driving the debate: Why does a movie reflecting Nigeria’s brutal reality generate more widespread and vocal outrage from the affected community than the actual crimes and humanitarian crisis it portrays? Critics argue that to stop the profiling, the focus must shift to sustained, collective action against the criminals themselves
