Actress Bimbo Thomas has narrated a chilling incident that occurred during the filming of Omo Ghetto Part Two, when armed men invaded the hotel accommodating the cast and crew in Ebute Metta, Lagos.
Speaking during an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Thomas explained that the production regularly faced harassment because the movie portrayed street life, which some locals felt mirrored their daily reality.
She said filming in Ebute Metta attracted frequent interruptions from hoodlums. “It’s a thuggery movie, so boys would always come to disturb us because they felt we were telling their story,” she explained, adding that despite growing up in the area, the crew still had to employ security to work freely.
According to Thomas, the situation escalated late at night when loud banging and shouts of “Ole! Ole!” erupted around midnight as attackers attempted to force their way into the hotel. Panic followed as the actresses scrambled to protect themselves.
She said she, Funke Akindele, and others hid in the bathroom, praying and trying to prevent the attackers from recognizing Akindele. “We didn’t know what to do. We were praying. Funke is a prayer warrior, so we all prayed,” she recalled.
Thomas said it quickly became clear that Akindele was the main target. “I told them, ‘She’s the face here.’ We tried hiding her under the bed, but it didn’t work, so we moved into the bathroom,” she said.
Despite their efforts, the attackers eventually gained access and took Akindele away. Thomas described the experience as traumatic, saying she genuinely feared they would all be killed.
“When they returned the second time, they were clearly looking for Funke. They kept calling her name,” she said. “They told her to dress up and dragged her downstairs. When I followed, I heard her singing Emi Omo Ghetto. I was confused. They asked her to sing and dance, and she did.”
Security operatives later intervened, forcing the attackers to flee. Thomas said some of them were reportedly arrested or killed.
She linked the incident to an earlier confrontation during filming when some locals were arrested and compelled to record apology videos after causing trouble on set, despite prior agreements with the community.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Thomas expressed gratitude for surviving the incident and said she was prepared to risk her life for Akindele.
“At that moment, I didn’t think of the consequences. I was ready to attack one of them. I could have been killed,” she said. “When Funke later asked why I didn’t hand her over, I told her, ‘If they were going to kill you, they would have killed all of us together.’ We truly thank God.”
