Nollywood actor Ibrahim Chatta has raised concerns over the impact of rising insecurity on Nigeria’s epic film industry, saying fears of banditry and kidnappings have discouraged filmmakers from shooting historical productions that rely heavily on horses.
Speaking in a video posted on his Facebook page on Thursday, the actor said the decline in epic film productions has significantly reduced demand for horses at his film village, forcing him to suspend plans to expand his stable despite years of supplying animals to some of Nollywood’s biggest productions.
Chatta, who has provided horses, camels and donkeys for films including “Jagun Jagun”, “House of Gaa”, “Iyalode” and “Labake Olododo”, said he no longer buys horses because many producers have become reluctant to shoot epic movies.
The 55-year-old said: “I’ve lost 49 horses, and I currently have about 27, my lowest number since I started operating the film village. I used to buy my horses from the north, from communities along the border with the Niger Republic. The lowest number I bought at once was 10; I used to buy 15 at a time, but now that my colleagues are scared of bandits and kidnappers because of what’s happening in Oyo State, they no longer come to shoot epic films.
