Outrage Unleashed Against Femi Adebayo, Nancy Isime Over Latest Movie Poster Featuring Hijab/Niqab-Clad Women Wielding Guns in Bank Robbery Scene

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

A Nigerian Nollywood actress, Nancy Isime, has sparked outrage among the Muslim community in Nigeria after unveiling a movie poster that features women wearing hijabs and face veils while holding guns in a bank robbery scene. 

The poster, which appears to promote her upcoming film, has been widely criticized for its perceived insensitivity and disrespect towards Muslim women. 

Many Muslim women have expressed their discontent, arguing that it perpetuates negative stereotypes and reinforces harmful misconceptions about Islam. 

They believe that depicting Muslim women engaging in criminal activity while wearing religious clothing is offensive and disrespectful, ignoring the peaceful and positive values of their faith.

Latifat Adewunmi Jumah, commenting on the offensive posters on her Facebook page "Laj Fingers," expressed her anger, stressing that “the niqab/hijab is not an armed robbery attire, the niqab/hijab is not an attire for concealing identity.” 

She questioned the actress, saying, “If you needed to conceal your identity for a perfect robbery role, you could have used a nose mask or wear a mask, why wear an Islamic attire?.”

“I find this as offensive. Something needs to be done to stop these people. The niqab/hijab is not a costume, nor, it is not a joke,” she concluded. 

OPEN TELEVISIOTELEVISIONports that another Muslim actor from Ilorin who also appeared on the movie’s poster alongside with Isime, Femi Adebayo, has also faced intense backlash from the Muslim community on social media. 

Many have questioned his adherence to Islamic values, suggesting that his involvement in the project contradicts his faith. 

A Facebook user, Alfa Shehu, commented, “And one of our brothers from Ilorin is in the movie with them. Hypocrites! It’s the same people who will say women in niqab are doing this and that. All for clout and monetization.”

In response to the controversy, numerous Muslims have threatened to file complaints with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, seeking action against the account that shared the contentious scene. 

The widespread criticism indicates that the movie poster has caused significant offense and underscores the need for greater sensitivity toward the impact of such imagery on Muslim communities, particularly, women who wear the hijab should face veil as prescribed by Islam.