Actress Bimbo Thomas has shared a terrifying experience during the filming of Omo Ghetto Part Two, when armed robbers attacked the hotel where the cast and crew were staying in Ebute Metta, Lagos. In an interview with Chude Jideonwo, Thomas explained that the production often faced disruptions from locals who objected to the film’s depiction of street life. “We were filming in Ebute Metta, and boys would always come on set to disturb us because it’s a thuggery movie, and they felt we were depicting their everyday life,” she said. “It’s my hood. I grew up in Ebute Metta, so I thought they would accord me that respect, but we still had to bring security so we could shoot freely.” The frightening incident began around midnight, with loud banging and shouts of “Ole! Ole!” as the attackers tried to force their way into the hotel. Thomas said she, Funke Akindele, and other cast members hid in the bathroom, praying and trying 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,” Thomas recounted. In a desperate attempt to protect Akindele, the team tried to hide her. “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,” Thomas said. Despite their efforts, the robbers eventually broke in and took Akindele away, forcing her to sing and dance. Thomas described the moment as “deeply disturbing” and feared for everyone’s lives. “When they came back the second time, it was clear they were looking for Funke. They kept calling her name,” she said. “They told her to put on her clothes and dragged her downstairs to her car. I came downstairs and heard her singing Emi Omo Ghetto. I didn’t understand what was happening. They asked her to sing and dance, and she did.” Security forces later arrived, driving the attackers away, with some reportedly arrested or killed. Thomas linked the incident to an earlier on-set confrontation, where locals who had caused disruptions were arrested and forced to record apology videos. “Even though we had settled the area before filming, that incident offended them,” she said. Reflecting on the ordeal, Thomas expressed gratitude for their safety and her determination to protect Akindele. “I was thankful. At that moment, I was ready to attack one of them without thinking of the consequences. I could have been killed,” she said. “When Funke later asked why I didn’t give her up, I told her, ‘If they were going to kill you, they would have killed us together. We thank God. Truly, we thank God.’”
