Story Highlights
Nollywood actress Bimbo Thomas has shared a chilling account of how she once hid colleague Funke Akindele from armed robbers who stormed their hotel specifically to find the box office queen. Speaking in an interview released on January 3, 2026, Thomas revealed she was prepared to sacrifice her life to protect Akindele during the harrowing ordeal.
The revelation came during an emotional session with media personality Chude Jideonwo. Bimbo Thomas described a film set in the Ebute Metta area of Lagos that turned into a near-death experience.
According to the actress, the incident began when local “area boys” disrupted their shoot, feeling the movie depicted their lives without permission. While the crew thought they had settled the dispute with cash, the situation escalated later that night at their hotel.
”They came for her”
Thomas explained that Funke Akindele had asked her to come over to her hotel room for a massage session after the shoot. It was around midnight when they heard loud bangs.
The actress described the chaos that followed. The gunmen breached the hotel security and made their way to the room. Thomas noted that she instinctively knew the attackers targeted Akindele.
”I told the masseuse, ‘Let’s put Funke under the bed,'” Thomas recounted. When the bed proved too low, they moved to the bathroom. Thomas wore a large gown and hid Akindele underneath it while they prayed.
This revelation adds a grim layer to the public life of Akindele. While fans recently celebrated news that Funke Akindele follows Faithia Balogun again to mend industry rifts, this story highlights the physical dangers stars face.
A close shave with death
The attackers eventually broke into the room. Thomas recalled a moment of pure adrenaline where she almost attacked one of the gunmen but held back.
The gang dragged Akindele out of the room. In a bizarre twist, they forced the superstar to sing and dance to “Mongo Park” songs to prove she was “born in the ghetto.”
Thomas watched helplessly from the window as the six armed men surrounded her friend. She noted that about 20 other gang members waited outside.
The situation only calmed when officers from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, arrived at the scene. Gunshots ensued, and Akindele managed to run to the generator house where a security guard gave her a towel to cover up.
”If they kill you, they kill us together”
The bond between the two actresses proved vital that night. Thomas told Jideonwo that Akindele later asked why she didn’t give her up to save herself.
”I said, ‘If they were going to kill you, they didn’t kill us together,'” Thomas stated, fighting back tears.
This level of loyalty stands in stark contrast to the usual industry squabbles. For instance, the public recalls the time actress Iyabo Ojo reacts following reports of tension in her own circle, proving that true friendship in Nollywood is rare but real.
Bimbo Thomas confirmed that the police later arrested the gang members, and some were killed during the operation.
