- Dark October is a fictional movie by a popular Nigerian blogger named Linda Ikeji.
- The murder of four students at Aluu serves as the film’s primary source material.
Aluu is a town in Rivers State, Nigeria. The town is best known for the gruesome murder of four University of Port Harcourt students in 2012. The students were killed by a mob who accused them of stealing a laptop and phone. Their bodies were then set on fire. Following the murders, there was widespread public outrage and protests.
The Nigerian government arrested several people in connection with the murders. In 2013, eight people were convicted and sentenced to death for their roles in the killings.
The parents of the boys reached out to Linda Ikeji after the movie was released on Netflix and asked that she take the movie down because it exposed fresh wounds that they were trying to mend.
Critics have also accused Ikeji of exploiting a real-life murder incident for her financial gains, as she stands to make a profit from the sale of the movie and many felt she should have consulted with the parents before moving forward with the project.
However, Royalson Clinton, a social media influencer based in Port Harcourt, has come out to say that what Linda Ikeji did with the movie was commendable, remarkable, and honorable.
He stressed that “The movie has the tendency of re-awakening the case and, inviting Foreign bodies to investigate and ensure proper justice is served“.
Filmmakers and organizations should have long before done what Linda did in Port Harcourt, the state’s capital, where the incident took place, and Royalson Clinton emphasized that Linda Ikeji should be given some praise rather than criticism. She did what the people of Port Harcourt ignored due to their usual emotional outcry and how they would rather brag about being better than collaborate and get the work done. He wrote:
But…
You really think Linda Ikeji (with all her experience, exposure and, connect) will just wake up, sum up stories from the internet (without actually doing a proper research) and, produce a movie – on a real life event?Abi na because una no see her for PH with pen and, paper?And how sure are you that the family or, someone close to the victims – with valid information wasn’t consulted? Well, maybe not the immediate family members but then, I’m sure they got an insider Intel...As for the movie in General, we (as a people) needed that reminder/reflection. This particular incident shook the entire Nation so, I don’t think it is one that should be forgotten.What Linda Ikeji did is applaudable, remarkable and, honorable. I see it as one way of honouring the Aluu 4 Victims…** This movie has the tendency of re-awakening the case and, inviting Foreign bodies to investigate and ensure proper justice is served… Yes!Linda Ikeji deserves some positive credits and, not the gbas gbos condemnation. She did what we (Port Harcourt people) ignored – due to our usual emotional outcry and, how we’ll rather brag of being better – than collaborating and, getting the work done.
Besides, if you think or, feel the story wasn’t well told, you can as well tell your own side/version of the story. Ordinarily, a story can be told in various angles…..It’s crazy how we (just like the people of Aluu) are always quick to condemn and, compare rather than Celebrate. We don’t wait for the full gist, we just join the Mob…Just because one or, two persons started ranting about Consent and, all that; just like the angry blood thirsty mob, we didn’t need to find out more, we joined the online trolling – just so we’re not left behind. Make e no be like sey you no dey current...DARK OCTOBER tells a lot about us… Every scene displayed the typical Nigerian of today! Yes!
