“Banditry, kidnappings are driving filmmakers away from epic movies” — Ibrahim Chatta

Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has voiced serious concerns regarding the impact of escalating insecurity on Nigeria's epic film industry. He asserts that the pervasive fear of banditry and kidnappings is deterring filmmakers from undertaking historical productions that traditionally require extensive use of horses.

Chatta, who operates a film village and has supplied animals for major Nollywood productions like "Jagun Jagun" and "House of Gaa," revealed that the reduced demand for horses has forced him to suspend plans for expanding his stable. He has seen his horse count drop significantly, reaching its lowest point since he began operating the film village. Many producers, he explained, are now reluctant to shoot epic films due to safety concerns in areas like Oyo State.

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I've lost 49 horses, and I currently have about 27, my lowest number since I started operating the film village.

"I've lost 49 horses, and I currently have about 27, my lowest number since I started operating the film village," Chatta stated. He used to purchase horses regularly from communities bordering Niger Republic, often buying 10 to 15 at a time. However, the current climate of fear has halted these purchases. "So I wasn’t motivated to buy more horses. I used to buy horses before and after Eid al-Kabir... but now that my colleagues are scared of bandits and kidnappers... they no longer come to shoot epic films."

Furthermore, Chatta highlighted the sharp increase in feed prices for his animals. A bag of horse feed that once cost N3,200 now sells for N22,000, making it prohibitively expensive to maintain the animals. This economic pressure, combined with the security risks, has compelled him to diversify his investments. "I now buy cows instead," he said, indicating a significant shift in his business strategy driven by the prevailing insecurity in the country.

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So I wasn’t motivated to buy more horses. I used to buy horses before and after Eid al-Kabir, when my staff went home for the festival. Still, I didn’t buy any this year because there’s no money. And those who used to rent horses no longer shoot movies because they’re scared of being kidnapped while shooting in the forest. I now buy cows instead.