Nollywood Classic Issakaba Returns to Cinemas After 25 Years

Nollywood’s popular action film franchise, Issakaba, has returned to the big screen with the release of its sequel, Issakaba: The Return, 25 years after the original production made its debut.

The new film opened in cinemas across Nigeria on Friday, November 13, 2026, bringing back veteran actor Sam Dede in his iconic role as Ebube, the leader of the vigilante group at the centre of the original story.

Filmmaker Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, who directed and produced the 2001 classic, also returns as director of the sequel.

Set 25 years after the events of the original film, the new production follows Ebube as he comes out of retirement to confront a more sophisticated wave of crime, banditry, kidnapping and occult activities threatening communities.

The sequel explores contemporary security challenges while revisiting the original film’s themes of community protection, justice and grassroots participation in security.

The production features a combination of returning actors and a new generation of Nollywood stars, including Chiwetalu Agu, Chidi Mokeme, Iyabo Ojo, Regina Daniels, Alex Osifo, Charles Okafor, Nosa Rex, Mark Angel and Phyna.

Speaking ahead of the release, Imasuen said the decision to revive the franchise was driven by the continuing relevance of the issues explored in the original production.

He explained that the 2001 film reflected a society struggling with violent crime, communal insecurity and concerns about the effectiveness of conventional security structures.

According to the filmmaker, the sequel places the original story in the context of present-day Nigeria, where criminal activities have evolved alongside technological and social changes.

The original Issakaba drew inspiration from the activities of the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group that emerged in parts of south-eastern Nigeria in the late 1990s to confront criminal activities.

Its combination of action, suspense, horror and traditional mysticism made it one of the memorable productions of Nollywood’s early home-video era.

Distributed by Blue Pictures, Issakaba: The Return seeks to reconnect audiences who grew up watching the original film with younger cinema viewers.

The nationwide release marks the franchise’s return to cinemas after a quarter of a century.