Day Armed Robbers Stormed Funke Akindele’s Film Set Hotel, Pastor Rushed to Hospital — Eyewitness Account

Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has narrated a chilling experience in which armed robbers allegedly attacked a hotel housing cast and crew members of Omo Ghetto Part Two during filming in Ebute Metta, Lagos—an incident she said almost ended in tragedy.

Thomas, who portrayed Nikky in the blockbuster movie that marked her major breakthrough in Nollywood, said the attackers appeared to be targeting the film’s producer and lead actress, Funke Akindele, following earlier tensions on set.
Speaking during an interview with media personality Chude Jideonwo, uploaded on Saturday, Thomas explained that shooting the thuggery-themed movie in Ebute Metta attracted repeated disturbances from hoodlums in the area.
She said the youths often disrupted filming because they felt the movie mirrored their daily lives, adding that despite being a native of the area, the interference continued.
“This is my hood. I grew up in Ebute Metta, so I thought they would respect me, but we still had to bring in security so we could work freely,” she said.
According to Thomas, the attack happened late at night after filming had wrapped up. The cast members were accommodated in different hotels around the area. She initially lodged in another hotel before Akindele asked her to stay with her.
“Funke told me to come over so we could have massages like we usually do after work,” she said, noting that actress Eniola Badmus remained in the other hotel.
Thomas said the incident started around midnight.
“We heard loud banging and people shouting ‘Ole! Ole!’ It was close to 12 midnight, almost 1 a.m.,” she recalled.
Fear quickly spread as it became clear the attackers were trying to break into the hotel. With no immediate help in sight, the group resorted to prayer.
“Funke is a prayer warrior, so we all started praying,” she said.
In an effort to protect Akindele, Thomas said they tried to hide her.
“I told them, ‘She’s the face here.’ We tried putting her under the bed, but it didn’t work, so we moved to the bathroom,” she explained.
Akindele reportedly hid under her gown while others knelt in fear. Thomas described the tense moments as the masseuse and Akindele prayed fervently, while she silently begged God for deliverance.
The attackers initially failed to gain access but later returned and forced their way in.
“When they came back, it was obvious they were looking for Funke. They kept calling her name,” Thomas said.
Eventually, Akindele revealed herself. Thomas said the assailants ordered her to dress up and dragged her downstairs to her car.
What followed, she said, was unsettling.
“I heard her singing Emi Omo Ghetto. They asked her to sing and dance, and she did,” Thomas recounted.
Although only six armed men entered the hotel, Thomas said they later realised about 20 others were stationed outside.
Frantic calls were reportedly made to influential individuals, including Oba Saheed Elegushi, while officers from Panti Police Station eventually arrived. Gunshots were heard as security forces engaged the attackers, forcing them to flee.
“It was chaos. Someone was shot, and a pastor was rushed to the hospital. About 20 to 30 of us were at the reception, not knowing whether to cry, faint, or keep praying,” she said.
Months later, Thomas said she learnt that several of the attackers were arrested, while others were reportedly killed.
She linked the attack to an earlier incident during filming when some hoodlums who disrupted the set were arrested and made to record apology videos, which she said may have angered them despite prior agreements with the community.
Describing the incident as “wicked and callous,” Thomas said it left deep emotional scars.
“When Funke later asked why I didn’t give her up, I told her that if they were going to kill her, they would have killed all of us together,” she said.
“We thank God—truly, we thank God,” she added.
(Source: Sunday PUNCH; headline reworked)