A new crime thriller series set in Ibadan is nearing completion, with its creators holding talks with distributors ahead of its planned release.
Titled Bodija, the series follows university students drawn into dangerous schemes involving cryptocurrency and internet fraud as they struggle to escape situations that threaten their lives.
The production, directed by Taiwo Egunjobi, is currently in post-production, with the team working on colour grading and distribution arrangements. No release date has been announced.
According to the nollywood reporter, Isaac Ayodeji, who heads the writing team, said that the series examines how young people react when desperation and pressure push them beyond their moral boundaries.
Ayodeji, who is making his debut as a television head writer, described the project as an opportunity to explore a different dimension of storytelling with Egunjobi, with whom he has worked on five projects.
Unlike their previous gritty productions, Bodija combines crime and suspense with satire, drawing humour from the characters and situations without being a conventional comedy.
“I wouldn’t call it a comedy, but there are comical aspects. They are satirical,” Ayodeji said.
The series also draws heavily on Ibadan, the hometown of its creators, with recognisable locations and local peculiarities woven into its storyline.
Ayodeji said the decision to set the production in Ibadan was driven by the desire to make the environment an important part of the storytelling rather than simply a filming location.
He cited the influence of crime films such as Guy Ritchie's Snatch and The Gentlemen, which helped shape the series' approach to characters, setting and storytelling.
The writer said the series explores how people behave when desperation leaves them with limited choices, forcing them to make decisions they would ordinarily avoid.
“The true instincts of human beings are never fully realised until they are backed into a corner or when they’re under pressure. That is when who you really are emerges,” he said.
He added that the students at the centre of the story are forced out of their comfort zones as they encounter dangerous adversaries, unlikely mentors and complicated relationships.
Ayodeji said the writing process involved several drafts and extensive collaboration among writers who had worked together previously.
He also disclosed that production costs influenced some creative decisions, forcing the team to adjust certain sequences to fit available resources.
“It’s very important, especially for TV, as a writer, to be very flexible, to be able to think fast on your feet,” he said.
Ayodeji said the series was developed for television because its storyline and characters required more room to evolve across episodes.
He expressed optimism that the production would secure a distributor, adding that the team was determined to ensure the project reached audiences.
“This is not one of those projects you make and nobody gets to see. The intention is for people to see it, and we’ll do everything within our power to make sure people get to see it,” he said.
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