To Kill a Monkey is a lovely Nigerian crime-thriller series created and directed by Kemi Adetiba. From the beginning of the series, the story introduces us to Efemini “Efe” Edewor, a struggling Nigerian father trying desperately to provide for his family.
Efe’s difficult financial circumstances eventually push him into the dangerous world of cybercrime. I have once been in a similar situation, so I can relate to the kind of financial pressure he was experiencing.
Hmm! To me, Efe’s involvement in cybercrime was activated when he reconnected with his old friend, Obozhuiomwen “Oboz” Ogbemudia. Yes, Oboz da Boss! Hehehehe. The name itself gives vibes. 😂
To me, Efe was not initially a bad person. Rather, desperation led him to seek help from Oboz, who had become successful and was able to pay his bills. Efe was not a lazy person either. He was intelligent, skilled in programming and AI, and he saw technology as a possible way out of his financial problems.
He eventually presented Oboz with his idea of using artificial intelligence to impersonate people and make money. Initially, they negotiated the percentages, and eventually, Oboz accepted an arrangement that favoured him more.
Efe loved his family, and his wife, Nosa, loved him too. However, what initially appeared to be an opportunity to make quick money gradually became a journey of greed, deception, violence, and moral compromise.
There was also another mastermind behind the larger criminal operation—Teacher, played by Chidi Mokeme. Teacher was a feared and powerful crime lord who demanded obedience and his share of the business. Oboz, being the loud and confident person he was, eventually clashed with him. That conflict had devastating consequences for both Oboz and Efe’s families.
Efe’s wife, Nosa, was an understanding woman, no doubt about it. But after Oboz and Efe got involved with the wrong people, their enemies came after their families. Nosa, who had endured so much with Efe, gradually changed. Her frustration and resentment became more obvious as the consequences of Efe’s choices began affecting the family.
Her mother was also not particularly understanding of Efe’s struggles. In fact, I think her attitude was one of the factors that contributed to Efe eventually giving in to Oboz’s proposal after initially running away from the idea of cybercrime.
Sadly, Nosa’s mother also became one of the victims of the violence surrounding the conflict with Teacher. The series shows just how dangerous Efe’s new world had become.
Efe was eventually confronted with many of the consequences of the choices he had made. Trying to correct the wrongs around him while using the wrong approach only made things worse.
Would I say Efe was trying to right the wrong using the wrong method? Absolutely. And that made him vulnerable to attacks from powerful people in the scamming world.
Efe’s desperation made him walk through a door he would ordinarily never have approached.
And that is one of the things I found interesting about his character. He did not wake up one morning and decide, “I want to become a criminal.” He was gradually pulled into it. Poverty, family responsibilities, pressure, opportunity, greed, and eventually power all played their parts.
But then again, at some point, Efe became responsible for his own decisions.
His lawyers and other people around him were also involved in carefully planned schemes that eventually contributed to his downfall. His lawyer was secretly working with the people who were against him, making the betrayal even more painful.
At some point, Efe was made to believe that everything was under control, only for him to fall deeply into another deceptive trap. Even people he trusted became part of the plan against him.
Eventually, Efe ended up in prison, and many of his properties were confiscated.
Even after everything that happened, the drama within his marriage did not end. While Efe was in prison, Nosa asked him about his hidden properties so she could take control of them. This came after their marriage had already been damaged by betrayal and infidelity on both sides. Nosa herself had an affair with their family doctor, Daniel Etim, while Efe also became involved with other women.
To Kill a Monkey is a powerful Nigerian series because it explores an uncomfortable reality, particularly the economic pressure faced by many people in Nigeria. It presents a man who is not initially portrayed as a hardened criminal but as someone struggling to survive in an environment where poverty and financial pressure can make illegal opportunities appear very attractive.
The story feels real because, in one way or another, many people can relate to the kind of financial pressure Efe experienced. Sometimes, a person can be pushed to the edge and begin considering options they would ordinarily reject.
In fact, even after joining the criminal gang, Efe was still innocent of some things. He was inexperienced, conflicted, and at times did not fully trust Oboz.
But here is where I disagree with Efe: I think he should have remained loyal to Oboz, the man who called him “brother,” loved him, supported him, and was willing to protect him.
Oboz even protected Efe when he was in serious danger. Yet, in the end, Efe betrayed his partner and became involved in the plan that ultimately led to Oboz’s downfall. That betrayal was one of the most painful parts of the story for me.
To me, I enjoyed the way To Kill a Monkey refuses to present crime as something glamorous. At first, the money seems to offer Efe the solution to all his problems. His lifestyle changes, his confidence increases, and the possibility of finally providing everything his family needs appears to be within reach.
But money comes with consequences when it is acquired through the wrong means.
Every decision comes with a price, and Efe eventually paid for his choices.
The series also reminds us that desperation can make people vulnerable. A person may start by trying to solve one problem, only to create ten bigger problems in the process.
For me, To Kill a Monkey is not simply a story about cybercrime. It is a story about desperation, poverty, loyalty, betrayal, greed, family, power, and the consequences of our choices.
So, would I recommend it?
Absolutely.
If you enjoy Nigerian crime dramas with suspense, betrayal, unexpected twists, and a lot of moral questions, then this is one series worth watching.
You should watch this sort of Nigerian series and tell me what you think.
Bye! 👋
