Issakaba: The Return hits cinemas on 13 November, 25 years on

Ebube is coming back. Director Lancelot Imasuen announced on Thursday, 1 October 2026, that Issakaba: The Return, the sequel to his 2001 vigilante classic, opens in cinemas across Nigeria on Friday, 13 November 2026.

Sam Dede returns as Ebube, the leader of the Issakaba boys. The announcement, posted on Imasuen’s verified Instagram account at 8:03am WAT, also names Chidi Mokeme, Regina Daniels, Iyabo Ojo, comedian Mark Angel, former Big Brother Naija winner Phyna, Alex Usifo, Chiwetalu Agu and Sani Danja in the cast. Blue Pictures is distributing.

It ends a wait of more than two years. The film was shot in Asaba, Delta State, in early 2024, and no date had been given until now. Imasuen’s pitch for the new story is blunt. “Evil now has a new face and sophistication,” he wrote in the Instagram post announcing the date, under the line “25 years later”.

When is Issakaba: The Return in cinemas?

Issakaba: The Return opens on Friday, 13 November 2026, “in all cinemas nationwide”, according to Imasuen’s post. The post did not name cinema chains or ticket prices.

Fans were quick to find it. When GistMatrix viewed the post at about 5:45pm WAT on 1 October, it had more than 4,000 likes and about 500 comments.

How did we get here?

The sequel has been in the works since January 2024. Here is the run of events, from the sources listed below:

• 2001: Imasuen releases Issakaba, with Sam Dede as Ebube. The story was loosely based on the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group formed in the South-East in 1998 to fight armed robbers, Vanguard reported.
• 30 January 2024: Sam Dede tells his Instagram followers that “the Myth returns”, and auditions are held in Asaba (Vanguard, The Guardian).
• 2024: Imasuen tells Pulse Nigeria that filming is finished and the film is in post-production.
• 15 February 2025: Vanguard reports that the release is being timed to mark Imasuen’s 30 years behind the camera, and that the production reportedly cost nearly ₦300 million.
• 18 September 2026: marking 25 years of the original, Imasuen tells Vanguard the sequel is headed for cinemas, still without a date.
• 1 October 2026: the date arrives: Friday, 13 November.

Is Issakaba: The Return a movie or a series?

It is a cinema release. Early reports in January 2024, including The Guardian and Ghana’s MyJoyOnline, described the project as a series, but Imasuen’s post says it will show in cinemas nationwide. No TV or streaming version has been announced.

Who is back from the original Issakaba?

Sam Dede and Chiwetalu Agu, who played Odiwe in the 2001 film, are both listed in the new cast. Imasuen produces and directs again.

The newcomers include actresses Regina Daniels and Iyabo Ojo, Mark Angel, whose online comedy skits made his name, and Phyna, who won Big Brother Naija season 7 in 2022.

What happens next

Issakaba: The Return opens in Nigerian cinemas on Friday, 13 November 2026, six weeks from the announcement. As of 8pm WAT on Thursday, 1 October, the post had not given a list of cinemas or ticket prices.

FAQ

When is Issakaba: The Return coming out?
Issakaba: The Return opens in cinemas across Nigeria on Friday, 13 November 2026, director Lancelot Imasuen announced on Instagram on 1 October 2026.

Who is in the cast of Issakaba: The Return?
Sam Dede returns as Ebube, with Chiwetalu Agu, Chidi Mokeme, Regina Daniels, Iyabo Ojo, Mark Angel, Phyna, Alex Usifo and Sani Danja among the cast named in Imasuen’s post.

Is Issakaba a true story?
The 2001 film was loosely based on the Bakassi Boys, a vigilante group that fought armed robbers in South-East Nigeria from 1998, according to Vanguard.

Did you watch the original Issakaba? Which scene do you still remember? Tell us in the comments.

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