DSS review stalls release of Apo Six movie in Nigerian cinemas

DSS review stalls release of Apo Six movie in Nigerian cinemas

The planned cinema release of The Night of June 7th, a film inspired by the controversial Apo Six killings in Abuja, has been suspended following a decision by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to refer the movie to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further review.

The film was scheduled to open in cinemas nationwide on Friday, August 28, 2026, but its release has now been put on hold pending the outcome of the regulatory and security review.

The Night of June 7th was written and produced by Linda Ikeji and directed by Toka McBaror. The movie seeks to dramatise the events surrounding the deaths of six young Nigerians in Abuja on June 7, 2005, in a case that became widely known as the Apo Six killings.

The distributor, Nile Entertainment, confirmed the suspension in a statement signed by its General Manager, Nowe Segun-Ojo, on August 26.

According to the distributor, the NFVCB reviewed the film before referring it to the DSS for additional review and advice.

Nile Entertainment said the producer and distributor would comply with the directive and suspend the film’s release, distribution and public exhibition until the review process is completed and the necessary approvals are secured.

The distributor added that a new release date would be announced once the regulatory process had been concluded.

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The suspension does not necessarily constitute a permanent ban on the movie. Instead, the film remains on hold while the relevant authorities assess the production.

The Apo Six case dates back to June 7, 2005, when six young Nigerians — Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Ekene Isaac Mgbe, Paulinus Ogbonna, Anthony Nwokike and Augustina Arebu — were killed in Abuja following an encounter with police officers.

The incident generated widespread public outrage and raised concerns about police brutality, extrajudicial killings and accountability in Nigeria.

The victims were initially accused of being armed robbers, but the circumstances surrounding their deaths subsequently became the subject of investigations, public debate and lengthy legal proceedings.

Several police officers were prosecuted over the killings. In March 2017, an FCT High Court sentenced former police officers Ezekiel Acheneje and Emmanuel Baba to death over their roles in the incident, while former Deputy Commissioner of Police Danjuma Ibrahim and another defendant were discharged and acquitted. Another accused officer, Othman Abdulsalam, was reported to be at large.

The case has remained an important reference point in discussions about police accountability and human rights in Nigeria, more than two decades after the killings.

The decision to adapt the case into a feature film had attracted considerable attention because of the sensitivity of the subject and its place in Nigeria’s recent history.

The movie features a cast including Femi Branch, Ali Nuhu, Gideon Okeke and Charles Lenny, among others, and previously premiered at the NollywoodWeek Film Festival in 2025.

Its planned nationwide cinema release was expected to bring the events surrounding the Apo Six case to a wider audience and renew public discussion about the circumstances surrounding the killings.

However, audiences will now have to wait for the outcome of the DSS review before the movie can be released.

Nile Entertainment said it remains committed to working with the relevant regulatory authorities and expressed appreciation for the patience of audiences, exhibitors, partners and other stakeholders.

The distributor has not disclosed how long the review is expected to last or provided a specific date for the film’s rescheduled cinema release.

For now, The Night of June 7th remains unavailable for public exhibition in Nigerian cinemas until the regulatory process is completed and the necessary clearance is obtained.

DSS review stalls release of Apo Six movie in Nigerian cinemas