Hijack '93 Cast & Character Guide

The Netflix disaster thriller Hijack '93 features a robust cast of African actors, particularly from Nigeria. The film was produced and distributed by Netflix, where it has been exclusively available to stream since its international release date of October 24, 2024. Directed by Nigerian filmmaker Robert Peters (Voiceless, Hell's Fury, Blackmoney) and written by Musa Jeffrey David (Kanaani, Wura, Blood Vessel), Hijack '93 was produced by Rogers Ofime and Charles Okpaleke. During its debut week on Netflix, Hijack '93 garnered a viewership of 3.2 million views and held the 9th spot in Netflix Nigeria's Top 10 list.

Hijack '93 follows a group of four male hijackers who hijack an airplane in order to dismantle their military-backed government. The hijackers work together to leverage the passengers on board in the name of social change, which creates a hostile and tension-fueled environment that places dozens of lives at stake. Hijack '93 is based on the true story of a real-life hijacking of a Nigerian Airways flight from Lagos to Abuja that took place on October 25, 1993. The names of the hijackers are changed in the film. In reality, their names were Richard Ogunderu, Kabir Adenuga, Benneth Oluwadaisi, and Kenny Rasaq-Lawal.

Idia Aisien as Ese

Actor: Idia Aisien, 33, Nigerian-American model, television host, and actress. With 1.2 million followers on Instagram, Aisien is one of the most popular Nigerian-American models and actresses in the world. She was recently featured on the covers of Glamour and GQ magazines, the latter of which called Aisien "Hollywood's Next Superstar." She is a graduate of New York University and American University. She made her acting debut in the 2020 horror film Nneka the Pretty Serpent and went on to star in 2021's Badboys and Bridesmaids, 2023's Twin Flame, 2023's Slum King, and 2024's Life and Dirt. As a model, Aisien has worked for BMW, Vogue, and many more. She also currently hosts You Got Issues and Style 101 on Spice TV in Nigeria.

Notable Works:

Character: Idia Aisien plays Ese, a flight attendant in Hijack '93.

John Dumelo as Captain Ambrose

Actor: John Dumelo, 40, is a Ghanaian actor and politician. He describes himself as an "Actor, Farmer, Philanthropist" and "UN ambassador" on his Instagram page, which has 3.5 million followers. He initially garnered internet fame in 2014 by becoming the first Ghanaian citizen to amass 1 million followers on Facebook. He is also an entrepreneur and owner of the clothing brand J.Melo which he founded in 2012. He made his feature film debut in 2009's The Perfect Picture and has since accumulated more than 135 acting credits in movies and television series. Some of his most notable projects include The Maidens, Heart of Men, A Private Storm, Queen Latifa, and A Northern Affair, the latter of which earned him Best Actor at the 2017 Ghana Movie Awards.

Notable Works:

Character: John Dumelo plays one of the pilots in Hijack '93 named Captain Ambrose.

Efa Iwara as Captain Odion

Actor: Efa Iwara, 38, is a Nigerian actor and rapper. His career in the entertainment industry began as a musician in a group called X-Factor. He started to release his own music as a solo artist in 2011 with the EP "Waka". He recently released a full-length album titled Without a Pulse in 2020. As an actor, Iwara first appeared as David in 2013's MTV Shuga and made his feature film debut in 2016's Put a Ring on It. He was nominated for Best Actor at the 2020 Nollywood Awards for his leading role in The Sessions. He graduated from the University of Ibadan with a bachelor's degree in Geography. Some of his other notable acting credits include 2020's This Lady Called Life, 2018's Ajoche, 2021's Team Six, and 2022's Joseph. He has also starred in the popular series Rumour Has It, The Men's Club, and Unbroken.

Notable Works:

Character: Efa Iwara plays one of the pilots in Hijack '93 named Captain Odion.

Hijack '93 Supporting Cast & Characters

Nnamdi Agbo as Omar (Skipper): Nnamdi Agbo plays one of the highjackers named Omar (Skipper). He is best known for Ordinary Fellows and Badmasi.

Adam Garba as Kayode (Eruku): Adam Garba plays one of the highjackers named Kayode (Eruku). He is best known for Voiceless and A Lot Like Love.

Allison Emmanuel as Ben (Owiwi): Allison Emmanuel plays one of the highjackers named Ben (Owiwi). He is best known for Kidnapped and Dead of Night.

Oluwaseyi Akinsola as Dayo (Iku): Oluwaseyi Akinsola plays one of the highjackers named Dayo (Iku). He is best known for Love and Fate and Jalaruru.

Sharon Ooja as Ada: Sharon Ooja plays crew member Ada in Hijack '93 and is best known for From Lagos with Love and Coming from Insanity.

Nancy Isime as Iyabo: Nancy Isime plays crew member Iyabo in Hijack '93 and is best known for Obara'M and Disguise.

Jemima Osunde as Temitope: Jemima Osunde plays crew member Temitope in Hijack '93 and is best known for The Delivery Boy and Akoni.