How Funke Akindele was snatched by thugs during ‘Omo Ghetto’ shoot – Bimbo Thomas

Nollywood star Bimbo Thomas has recalled the harrowing experience of witnessing her colleague Funke Akindele getting snatched by hoodlums during the Omo Ghetto film shoot.

Thomas made the disclosure in a recent chat with Chude Jideonwo, saying Akindele was specifically targeted after an earlier confrontation with the thugs on set.

She revealed that the film shoot was marred by incessant interruptions from hoodlums in the area.

“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.

“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,” Thomas said.

The actress shared that the attack came at night after filming had concluded, with cast members staying in different hotels within the vicinity.

“Funke said, ‘Bimbo, no, you have to come here. Let’s do massage.’ We usually do that after work,” Thomas said, adding that fellow actress Eniola Badmus was in a different hotel.

“It was around 12 midnight, almost 1 a.m. We heard loud bangs and people shouting ‘Ole! Ole!’.

“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 measure, she suggested hiding Akindele, who she said was the face of the entire cast and crew.

“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.

“The masseuse was praying in tongues. Funke was praying in tongues. Me, I was just begging God—if this cup can pass over us.

“When they came back the second time, it was clear they were looking for Funke. They kept calling her name.

“I thought they would just take what they wanted and leave us, but 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.

“We didn’t know they were that many. We were helpless,” Thomas added.

Speaking further, Thomas said influential figures, including Oba Saheed Elegushi, were called, support was mobilised, and officers from Panti Police Station later arrived.

“It was chaotic. Someone was shot. A pastor was rushed to the hospital. About 20 to 30 of us were at the reception, not knowing whether to cry, faint or just pray,” she stated.

Thomas revealed that months later, she found out that several of the attackers had been arrested, while some were reportedly killed.

“I was thankful. At that moment, I was ready to attack one of them without thinking of the consequences. I could have been killed.”