Anticipated Movie ‘Issakabar: The Return’ Emphasises Need For Local Policing In Tackling Insecurity

The movie, Issakaba The Return, is set for cinemas under Blue Pictures Distribution, even as film director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen spoke on why the movie was shot 25 years after its last instalment.

In a teaser screened to the media in Lagos, Issakaba: The Return continued from the 2001 movie, Issakaba, and the picture quality and high-octane drama, led by a gang of robbers led by Chidi Mokeme, who played the gang leader, wowed viewers.

“When Issakaba was released in 2001, Nigeria was already grappling with serious concerns about violent crime, communal insecurity and the ability of conventional security structures to respond effectively to the realities faced by ordinary people,” Imasuen stated at a media conference.

“The film was inspired, in part, by real events surrounding the Bakassi Boys and the confrontation with criminals and the alleged activities of the notorious Eddy Nawgu in Anambra State. But Issakaba was never intended to be merely an action film. It was a reflection of a society under pressure. It was a story about communities confronted with fear, violence, and the instinct to protect themselves when they believed the structures responsible for their security were not doing enough”.

Scheduled for a nationwide cinema release on November 13, 2026, the project has sparked massive nostalgia among longtime fans while introducing a legendary cultural narrative to a new generation of moviegoers.

Lancelot Oduwa-Imasuen noted that stories of resistance, community defence, and the battle against insecurity carry a timeless weight. Bringing Issakaba back wasn’t just about a simple remake, but about addressing cultural myth, societal systems, and justice through a contemporary lens.

The movie features a powerful blend of returning veteran icons, including the legendary Sam Dede, who brings his commanding presence, alongside a fresh crop of Nollywood talent. The cast includes Iyabo Ojo, Charles Okafor, Chidi Mokeme, Francis Onwochei, Nosa Rex, Sani Danja, Ileto Ibrahim, Phyna, Chude, and Mark Angel, who made a guest appearance.

For the movie director, shifting from the home-video era that defined the original 2000s classic into a modern, high-production cinematic experience required meticulous planning, intense casting and coordination in Asaba, and an elevated technical approach.

Issakaba: The Return dives back into themes of community vigilance, the war against criminal syndicates, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos.