Nollywood actress Nancy Isime has found herself at the centre of a heated controversy following the release of behind-the-scenes images from her upcoming film, tentatively titled Three Working Days.
The images, shared on Instagram earlier this week, depict Isime in a sleeveless shirt and trousers, holding a gun while wearing a hijab.
This portrayal has sparked significant criticism from various quarters, including prominent Muslim figures and community members.
A Muslim woman, Adiba Hayah, who took to social media to condemn the use of the niqab in the film, was among the first to voice his disapproval.
Hayah stressed that the niqab should not be used to represent socially destructive purposes, stating, “I guess there is a new movie coming out; either it is produced by Nancy or her team, or she is featured in the movie.
“I am sorry if I didn’t pronounce your name well; I don’t mean to be disrespectful. However, you’ve disrespected me, my religion and everything that I represent.
“Niqab is not a costume; you do not use it to represent things that are unspeakable in society. There are other things you could use, but you chose to use the niqab.
“Before you come under this comment section to start throwing tantrums and telling me how it is no business of mine to make a review about this, you should see this. My issue with the use of hijab and niqab in what looks like a robbery scene that makes no sense.”
She added that Hijab is not a costume but a religious symbol that bespeaks a lifetime of religious commitment, representing character and an embodiment of a righteous woman.
She said, “We are going through a lot already in Nigeria; there is too much hardship, and there are too many tribal problems in Nigeria.
“Why would you want to introduce religious war? Why can’t you maintain boundaries instead of consistently trying to disrespect people’s faith just because you want to promote what brings food to your table?
“There are many alternative face covering that could be used in this scene instead of the niqab and the hijab. This is not another costume or fashion attire; it is an identity, a symbol of modesty, and a representation of somebody’s faith.”
The controversy deepened with additional images showing Isime and other cast members appearing to be involved in a robbery, with Isime in one image fully covered with a burka while holding another gun.
This portrayal has been perceived by many Muslims as disrespectful and inflammatory.
Among those expressing outrage was Bashir Ahmad, former Digital Communications Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ahmad emphasized that the hijab is deeply associated with respect, modesty, and religious devotion among Muslim women.
“The producers of this movie should have considered alternative costumes, such as balaclavas or masks, for such scenes.
“For us, the Hijab (Niqab) is not worn by our women to hide their identity to commit crimes but to respect, follow, and abide by the teachings of our religion,” he added.
Some Muslims have threatened to file a complaint with Facebook and Instagram.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has also weighed in on the matter.
In a statement, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, condemned the film as “satanic” and accused it of depicting Muslim women as criminals, potentially inciting public hostility against them.
The statement read, “An extremely anti-Muslim film has been released into the Nigerian movie industry. The upcoming film shows women in purdah brandishing dangerous weapons and robbing banks. It is Islamophobia taken to the highest level. This film is satanic, repugnant, and provocative.
“It is aimed at portraying Muslim women as criminals with a violent proclivity. The film is capable of inciting the public against Muslim women. It may also expose Muslims in general to public ridicule and opprobrium.
“We believe that the film is the handiwork of Muslim-haters and part of the plot to stop Muslim women from wearing hijab and niqab. The plot was hatched a long time ago, and its execution began in the schools.
“This plot was boldly and diligently confronted in Nigerian courts by Muslims until the highest court in the land made a pronouncement on it. This Satanic film is the latest effort in the war against hijab.”
Akintola called for the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) to investigate and immediately ban the film.
The controversy continues to gain momentum, highlighting the ongoing tension between artistic expression and religious sensitivities in Nigeria.
