Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has shared a chilling account of how armed robbers invaded a hotel housing the cast and crew of Omo Ghetto: The Saga during filming in Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, Thomas revealed that the attackers appeared to be specifically targeting filmmaker and actress Funke Akindele, leaving everyone at the hotel traumatised.
According to her, shooting the thuggery-themed movie attracted frequent harassment from hoodlums in the area, who felt the film reflected their everyday lives.
“We were filming in Ebute Metta, and boys would always come to disturb us because it’s a thuggery movie. They felt we were portraying their daily reality,” she said.
She grew up in Ebute Metta and expected some level of familiarity and respect.
However, Bimbo Thomas noted that the crew still had to employ security to enable smooth filming.
The frightening incident reportedly began around midnight, when loud bangs and shouts of “Ole! Ole!” echoed through the hotel as the attackers tried to force their way in.
Thomas said she, Funke Akindele and others hid in the bathroom, praying and attempting to conceal Akindele’s identity.
“We didn’t know what to do. We were praying. Funke is a prayer warrior, so we all started praying,” she recalled.
In a bid to protect Akindele, Thomas said they initially tried to hide her under the bed before retreating to the bathroom.
“I told them, ‘She’s the face here.’ We tried to put Funke under the bed, but it didn’t work, so we moved to the bathroom,” she said.
The Robbery
The attackers eventually gained access and reportedly dragged Akindele outside, forcing her to sing and dance.
“When they came back the second time, it was clear they were looking for Funke. They kept calling her name,” Thomas said, describing the situation as deeply disturbing and terrifying.
She added that Funke Akindele was asked to sing Emi Omo Ghetto and dance.
Also,this is an act she said she could not immediately comprehend due to the shock of the moment.
The ordeal ended when security operatives intervened, chasing the attackers away, with reports that some were arrested or killed.
Thomas linked the incident to an earlier clash on set, where some locals who caused disruptions were arrested and forced to record apology videos.
Also, this is an action she believes angered others in the area.
Despite the trauma, Thomas expressed gratitude for their survival, stating that she was prepared to defend Akindele at all costs.
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“At that moment, I was ready to attack one of them without thinking of the consequences. We truly thank God,” she said.
