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Hijack '93

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2024 Nigeria drama film
Hijack 93
Theatrical release poster
Directed byRobert O. Peters
Screenplay by
  • Musa Jeffery David
Produced by
Starring
Edited byJohan Venter
Music byGray Jones Ossai
Production
companies
  • Netflix
  • Play Network Studios
  • Native Media
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • October 25, 2024 (2024-10-25)
Running time86 minutes
CountryNigeria
Languages
  • English
  • French

Hijack '93 is a 2024 Nigerian disaster film directed by Robert O. Peters and written by Musa Jeffery David. It is based on the real-life October 25,1993 Nigerian Airways hijack. The film stars Skipper (Nnamdi Agbo), Eruku (Adam Garba), Owiwi (Allison Emmanuel), and Iku (Oluwaseyi Akinsola) a group of four teenagers armed with guns take control of the aircraft, demanding that General Ibrahim Babangida, then Nigeria’s Defense Minister, resign from office. They also sought to address various political grievances, including government corruption and human rights abuses. The cast also features Sam Dede, Bob Manuel, John Dumelo, Idia Aisien, Nancy Isime, Efa Iwara, and Sharon Ooja.

The film premiered on Netflix on October 25, 2024, opening to an international audience. It quickly gained substantial viewership, amassing 3.2 million views and securing the 9th spot in Netflix Nigeria's top 10 list during its debut week marking it as the fourth Nollywood title of 2024 to achieve this milestone.

Plot

The film opens with four members of the Movement for the Actualization of Democracy: Nnamdi Agbo as Skipper, Adam Garba as Eruku, Allison Emmanuel as Owiwi, and Oluwaseyi Akinsola as Iku, portraying Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi, and Kenny Razak-Lawal. They drive to Lagos International Airport to board a Nigerian Airways Airbus A310, piloted by Captain Ambrose and Captain Odion, on a routine flight scheduled to depart from Lagos to Abuja on October 25, 1993. Onboard are passengers from various backgrounds, including top government officials, businesspeople, and everyday citizens, all unaware of the ordeal that awaits them. A member of the cabin crew has already hidden weapons and ammunition in the plane's washroom.

Shortly after takeoff, the atmosphere shifts dramatically when the four armed Nigerian teenagers—Kayode, Owiwi, Omar, and Skipper—take control of the aircraft. They announce, “Ladies and gentlemen, this plane has been taken over by MAD Men; Movement for the Actualization of Democracy… MAD… Remain calm; we will not harm you. You will be informed of where the plane will land.” Tensions escalate as they brandish their weapons, demanding that the pilot change the touch's course to Frankfurt, Germany. As panic spreads among the passengers, the hijackers reveal their motivations: they demand the resignation of General Sani Abacha, Nigeria's Defense Minister, and call for an end to government corruption and human rights abuses. Through their defiant actions, the hijackers force the world to confront Nigeria's political instability.

The aircraft eventually touched down in Niamey due to low fuel, prompting negotiations between the hijackers, local authorities, and Nigerian government representatives. Meanwhile, the hijacking attracts international attention, with news networks broadcasting the incident globally.

As time runs out, tensions between the hijackers and hostages reach a critical point. The authorities prepare a risky rescue operation, with Nigerian security forces coordinating efforts to resolve the standoff. As night falls, Owiwi loses his temper when the plane lands in Niger, threatening to kill a passenger to demonstrate his seriousness, even though everyone knows he is unlikely to follow through. Captain Kenneth Dokunbo, commander of the special forces, takes charge of the situation. During this time, they discover that the son (Lee Zhang) of the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria is also on the flight. The commander realizes that a rescue mission could potentially subdue the hijackers, but they cannot risk the life of Rong Yiren the vice president of China.

Eventually, the hijackers release women and children, indicating their willingness to surrender, provided their demands are met.

Cast

Hijackers

  • Nnamdi Agbo as Omar (Skipper)
  • Adam Garba as Kayode (Eruku)
  • Allison Emmanuel as Ben (Owiwi)
  • Oluwaseyi Akinsola as Dayo (Iku)

Crew

Supporting characters

Production

Development

On May, 2021, it was announced that three Nigerian filmmakers Rogers Ofime, Charles Okpaleke, and Agozie Ugwu along with Play Network Studios, Native Media TV, and UK-based filmmaker Femi Oyeniran, had teamed up to produce a new film, Hijack 93, based on the true story of the 1993 plane hijacking. The production received support from the United Kingdom's Department of International Trade (DIT) and the British Film Institute (BFI), to bring the event to life through cinema.

Filming

Principal photography began in May 2023 at Play Network Studios in Nigeria, who previously collaborated with Charles Okpaleke on the Nneka the Pretty Serpent, Living in Bondage: Breaking Free, Rattle Snake: The Ahanna Story , and Glamour Girls. The announcement was made by Charles Okpaleke, stating,

Remember the story of the teenagers that hijacked a Nigerian Airways plane headed to Abuja and diverted it to Niger in 1993? The 4 boys (who are in their 50’s now) went to prison for over a decade. I was privileged to interview 3 of them 2 years ago and they gave me a detailed explanation on how they carried out the first ever plane hijack in Nigeria. Their story is now being adapted into a feature film for the world to see by Play Network Studios and Native media.

Post-production

In 2023, Charles Okpaleke shared behind-the-scenes (BTS) photos from the set of Hijack 93: The Mad Men & The Aircraft. He mentioned on Instagram that Efa Iwara plays the role of co-pilot alongside John Dumelo. In his post, Okpaleke revealed that the actors underwent three months of training at aviation school and that filming had wrapped up, entering an extensive post-production phase.

Historical accuracy

1993 Nigerian Airways Airbus A310
Main article: 1993 Nigerian Airways hijack

The 1993 Nigerian Airways hijack was an aviation incident on October 25, 1993, involving a domestic Nigerian Airways flight. The Nigerian Airways Airbus A310 aircraft was en route from Lagos to Abuja, Nigeria, carrying 132 passengers and 11 crew members.

The incident occurred during political instability in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which had been widely considered free and fair. The annulment, by military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida, led to widespread protests and civil unrest, culminating in a tense political climate. Following Babangida's resignation, Chief Ernest Shonekan was interim president in August 1993, but his administration faced significant opposition.

The film portrays the hijacking as being orchestrated by Mallam Jerry Yusuf, a political teacher and revolutionary, leader of the Movement for the Advancement of Democracy (MAD),”a rebel group operating in the country. The hijackers initially intended to divert the plane to Frankfurt, Germany or Kotoko, Ghana, and it was reported that there were no casualties or loss of passenger lives. However, the film dramatizes the events, depicting a scene where a passenger is shot and killed by one of the hijackers.

Negotiations and resolution

The Nigerian government, in collaboration with Nigerien authorities, engaged in negotiations with the hijackers. After hours of tense discussions, the hijackers, Richard Ajibola Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi and Kenny Razak-Lawal, agreed to release the hostages in exchange for safe passage. During the negotiations, one passenger was reported to have been killed, although details about the circumstances of the death remain unclear.

The standoff ended peacefully after they surrendered to Nigerien authorities. They were later extradited to Nigeria, where they faced charges related to the hijacking.

Release

In October 3, 2024, Netflix released trailer for the film. The film was released in theaters in Nigeria on October 25, 2024, by Play Network Studios, in partnership with Netflix.

Reception

Audience viewership

Following its premiere on October 25, 2024, Hijack '93 quickly garnered significant viewership on Netflix, amassing 3.2 million views and securing a spot in Netflix Nigeria's top 10 list within its debut week. The film achieved notable success by reaching 9th place in Netflix's Nigeria rankings, making it the fourth Nollywood title of 2024 to enter these rankings. on November 12, 2024, Hijack '93 ranked third on the Netflix Global Chart for most-watched English films, amassing 7.3 million views. It secured a spot in the Top 10 across 61 countries, marking it as only the second Nigerian film to achieve such extensive global reach.

Critical response

Noghama Ehioghae of African Folder rated Hijack '93 a 3.6 out of 10, describing it as a "failed attempt to convey both the emotional weight and historical significance of the events." Ehioghae noted that the film's lack of backstory for the kidnappers makes it difficult for viewers to understand the events and the motivations behind the airplane hijacking.

Neerja Choudhuri of Midgard Times described Hijack '93 as a "well-crafted thriller," praising the film's screenplay. She remarked, "The screenplay does a commendable job capturing the high stakes inside the plane, with tensions mounting as the hours tick by." Neerja also commended the "outstanding performances" by the cast and gave the film an 8 out of 10 rating.

Omoleye Omoruyi of Technext24 awarded Hijack '93 a rating of 2 out of 10 stars, criticizing the film for offering "the bait of historical intrigue" but ultimately delivering "a jumble of loosely connected scenes and uninspired storytelling." According to Omoruyi, while the film spotlights a compelling historical event, it falls short in effectively conveying its narrative, coming across as "less of a movie and more of a rushed montage." He concludes, "We came to experience history; instead, we were hijacked by cliché."

Response from hijackers family

On October 26, 2024, Pa Yemi Ogunderu, the father of Richard Ogunderu, one of the hijackers involved in the 1993 Nigerian Airways hijacking to protest the annulment of the 1993 presidential election, widely believed to have been won by the late MKO Abiola—shared his thoughts in an interview regarding the film. He stated, "Richard was never a violent child, and I could never have expected such actions from him. He is an easygoing person, and he has no regrets. His only regret is that he wishes he had stayed in Niger Republic, where he had become a household name."

References

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