A coalition of civil society organisations under the umbrella of the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) has expressed strong concern following the suspension of the release of The Night of June 7th, a film depicting the infamous 2005 “Apo Six” extrajudicial killings in Abuja.
The feature film, which was scheduled to hit theatres nationwide on August 28, 2026, remains indefinitely on hold after the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) referred it to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further review, citing the sensitive nature of its subject matter.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026, the coalition raised alarms over the open-ended security review, warning that subjecting historical retellings to state security scrutiny threatens democratic freedoms and artistic expression.
“The Apo Six killings remain an important part of Nigeria’s human-rights and policing history,” the group stated. “The incident generated widespread public outrage and was followed by official investigations, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings. The convictions and acquittals arising from the case are matters of public record.”
While acknowledging the regulatory role of the NFVCB and noting that freedom of expression is not absolute, the AGFCS argued that restrictions on art must follow clear legal bounds, pursue legitimate goals, and remain proportionate to any actual harm.
“The mere fact that a historical episode is considered sensitive, controversial, or uncomfortable cannot, without more, provide sufficient justification for preventing or indefinitely delaying its retelling,” the statement read.
The coalition directly challenged the security apparatus’s involvement in a matter concerning judicial events from over two decades ago, asking what specific aspect of the film poses a genuine national security threat.
“What specific aspect of a film concerning events that occurred more than two decades ago raises a national-security concern requiring security-agency review? What is the legal basis for such referral?” the coalition questioned. “Subjecting artistic works dealing with alleged abuses by state institutions to unexplained security scrutiny risks creating a chilling effect on filmmakers, journalists, writers, researchers, and human-rights defenders seeking to document and interrogate Nigeria’s history.”
Citing Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution—which guarantees freedom of expression and the right to impart ideas without interference—the group called on the regulatory bodies to quickly resolve the standoff rather than allowing it to turn into a soft ban.
“We urge the NFVCB and the DSS to ensure that the review does not become an indefinite or de facto ban on the film,” the group emphasised. “Difficult episodes in our national history should not be erased simply because their retelling may be uncomfortable for individuals or institutions. The Apo Six story deserves to be remembered, examined, and told — not erased from public memory.”
The statement was signed by over 20 civil society organisations, including the Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Spaces for Change (S4C), Headfort Foundation for Justice, Centre for Transparency Advocacy, and Policy Alert.
