Apo six: 21 CSOs demand transparency over suspension of film release

Stanley Ihedigbo

Twenty-one civil society organisations have called for transparency over the suspension of the release of The Night of June 7th, a film based on the 2005 killing of six young Nigerians in Abuja, popularly known as the Apo Six killings.

The groups, operating under the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS), also warned against what they described as the risk of censorship of historical accounts involving alleged abuses by state institutions.

In a statement, the organisations expressed concern over reports that the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) referred the film to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further review because of the sensitive nature of the events portrayed.

The film was scheduled for nationwide cinema release on August 28, 2026, but remains on hold pending the outcome of the reported review.

The civil society groups said the Apo Six killings remain an important part of Nigeria’s human-rights and policing history, noting that the incident generated widespread public outrage and was followed by official investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings.

They argued that the convictions and acquittals arising from the case are matters of public record and questioned why a film based on the historical event should be subjected to what they described as an apparently open-ended security review.

“Against this background, the Action Group is concerned that a film based on a publicly documented historical event is now subject to an apparently open-ended security review without a clear public explanation of the specific national-security concern involved,” the group said.

The organisations acknowledged the statutory responsibility of the NFVCB to classify and regulate films in accordance with applicable laws.

They also acknowledged that freedom of expression is not absolute, but argued that restrictions on freedom of expression and artistic freedom must have a clear legal basis and be necessary and proportionate to the harm sought to be prevented.

According to the groups, the fact that a historical episode is sensitive, controversial or uncomfortable should not, by itself, justify preventing or indefinitely delaying its retelling.

Questions over DSS involvement

The reported involvement of the DSS, the groups said, had raised questions that required clarification from the relevant authorities.

They asked what specific aspect of a film concerning events that occurred more than two decades ago constituted a national-security concern requiring security-agency review.

They also demanded to know the legal basis for the referral, the criteria that would guide the review and the timeframe within which the process would be concluded.

The organisations warned that the issue went beyond the particular film, arguing that unexplained security scrutiny of artistic works dealing with alleged abuses by state institutions could create a chilling effect on filmmakers, journalists, writers, researchers and human-rights defenders.

They cited Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including the freedom to receive and impart ideas and information without interference.

The groups maintained that artistic expression and historical storytelling form part of the democratic space protected by the constitutional provision.

Groups demand NFVCB clarification

The Action Group called on the NFVCB to publicly clarify the legal and factual basis for referring The Night of June 7th to the DSS.

It also asked the board to identify the specific concern necessitating the additional review and provide a clear and reasonable timeline for concluding the process.

The organisations further urged the NFVCB and DSS to ensure that the review did not become an indefinite delay or what they described as a “de facto ban” on the film.

They argued that unless there was a specific and demonstrable legal basis for restricting the film’s exhibition, consistent with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality, the regulatory process should be concluded promptly and the film allowed to proceed through the normal classification and exhibition process.

‘Historical memory is important’

The civil society organisations stressed the importance of historical memory to accountability and democratic development.

“Societies learn from institutional failures by documenting, examining and openly discussing them,” they said, arguing that difficult episodes in Nigeria’s history should not be erased simply because their retelling may be uncomfortable for individuals or institutions.

The groups maintained that the Apo Six killings form part of Nigeria’s history and should remain within public memory and democratic discussion, irrespective of differing views about the film itself.

“The Apo Six story deserves to be remembered, examined and told — not erased from public memory,” they said.

The statement was endorsed by African Focus For Youth Development (AFFYD) Kano; Center for Peace Education and Community Development; Center for Transparency Advocacy; Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE); Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding, Kaduna; Centre for Justice, Empowerment and Development (C4J); Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD Nigeria); Garga Foundation; Headfort Foundation for Justice; Institutional and Sustainable Development Foundation (ISDFOUNDATION), FCT; Koyenum Immalah Foundation; Open Knowledge Development Initiative; Open Society on Justice Reform Project (OSJRP); Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF); Policy Alert; Restorative Justice for Africa (REJA); Rule of Law Accountability and Advocacy Center (RULAAC); Spaces for Change (S4C); Virgin Heart Foundation; Vision Spring Initiatives; and Vivacious Development Initiative.