BLESSING ENENAITE examines the impact of louts’ activities on movie productions at locations
Last month, a film-maker, Biodun Stephen, had to cough up some money to fix the side mirrors of her vehicle and wiper which she said were damaged by louts at a movie location. She noted that the development is becoming recurrent and worrisome.
Louts, known in local parlance as ‘area boys,’ are common faces in Lagos State and some other states engaged mostly by local councils for forceful levy collection at bus stops. Some constitute nuisance on their own, levying individuals illegally and becoming aggressive when their terms are not met.
For Stephen, she had become tired of the laborious encounters with the louts which she noted often elongated production time frame and increased budget.
She said, “The touts know me because I always tackle them. In the midst of 20 of them, I always shout to condemn their act anytime they disturb us. I don’t know where to start from because I encounter them in all my projects. In the second week of October 2022, we were passing through Ajah, Lagos, and the area boys broke the side mirrors of the location bus and removed its wiper. My team and I were not even filming at that spot. The touts recognise location buses. They hung onto the bus and demanded money. If we take a generator along, we have to pay for them. They initially demanded N20,000 but we negotiated it to N3,000.
“In the evening that I and my team were shooting, Vehicle Inspection Officers saw the bus and said it had no side mirrors. We explained to them that the side mirrors were broken in the morning by area boys but they insisted that we should have gone to the police station to report the issue. They demanded N25, 000. How do we know this? Our bus was impounded with the film equipment inside. We had to pay N25,000. We have no other choice.’’
Stephen also said that the extortion was not limited to the area boys, adding that passersby and roadside sellers were part of it. She stated that whenever she and her team appealed to people around the movie location to maintain silence while shooting a scene, they would tell her to pay them because she was in their neighbourhood.
She said, “It is a major problem. There was a time an actor was stabbed and a director’s head was broken by area boys. They could switch off the generator if we don’t settle them. Lagos Island is the worst place to shoot a movie. Once one crosses the bridge, one has automatically entered the lion’s den.
“Once they see us from Lekki Phase One, they will chase our equipment bus. They will not plead for money but forcefully say, ‘owo wa da? (Where is our money?) They can delay production for hours or a whole day so we have to dance to their tune.”
It is noteworthy that settling a group of louts is not a guarantee that work would run smoothly for the filmmakers. This is because they operate in batches.
On this assertion, Stephen said, “When one is shooting scenes at any place, money for area boys must be kept aside. They also come in batches. When you settle one set, another set will come.”
The movie-maker whose works include ‘Picture Perfect,’ ‘Tiwa’s Baggage,’ ‘Looking for Baami,’ ‘Breaded Life, ‘Aki and Pawpaw,’ and ‘Progressives Tailors Club, ’among others was concerned that the extortion was affecting film productions.
She added that there were instances when some of them assisted at locations. She noted, “If I am filming at Eko Idumota and a gang of area boys see me filming, they can provide a service for me by helping to do crowd control. As a responsible person, it is my duty to give them money at the end of the day. This is way better than harassing me with weapons, demanding that I pay money I do not owe them.
“Is the money they are taxing us fixing roads? Is it building bus parks? Is it helping to coordinate law and order on the road? No! Rather, it is adding to the chaos. The government is watching them grow wings.”
She also recounted an incident with louts at Apongbon area of Lagos when they blocked a road and were collecting N200 each from people before passing.
On another occasion, Stephen said she went to an embassy last month and wanted to use a Point of Sale machine and the operator said that her charge was N300 to withdraw N10, 000. She stated that when she told the person that her charge was much, she replied that she was paying area boys N5, 000 yet she was operating in front of a private building.
Stephen expressed worry over the development, noting that the state government should wade in to arrest the situation.
The untouchable louts
Stephen is not the only victim of louts’ extortion. Some of her colleagues have similar experiences.
One of them is Lancelot Imasuen known for epic movies which included Issakaba (Part 1 to 4) released two decades ago. The filmmaker has also produced other movies to enrich the industry to the delight of movie lovers.
Though he has been able to assert his creative energy, he is worried about how louts disrupt his film productions especially in Lagos.
He told our correspondent, “Louts parading themselves as omo onile (land grabbers) have disturbed me many times at locations especially in Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. In one of the days, if we were not careful, someone would have been killed. One would be going about his or her duty working and some guys (louts) will start harassing one and demand money.
“At times I ask myself, why am I paying these guys? This is the situation we find ourselves in. It also affects other areas of our lives. Some persons have become lords in Lagos. Motorcyclists and tricyclists are also victims of the touts who extort them daily. It is the same set of touts who harass us at film locations that extort the commercial motorcyclists and tricyclists.
“If we do not give them money, they will prevent us from filming. A recent experience was when we were at City Mall, Ikeja, Lagos. We went to a movie premiere and while coming out, the louts, who knew we were movie people, asked us for money. We stood up to them because we didn’t have cameras with us that day that they could destroy. The effrontery made them angry. One of them said in pidgin, ‘It is because you people didn’t come along with cameras that is why you didn’t want to give us money. Next time you bring cameras here, you will see what we will do to you.”
Like Stephen, Imasuen also urged the Lagos State government to curb the menace.
Imasuen stated, “This is the reality my colleagues and I face. It seems there is nothing people can do to them, especially in Lagos. They are lord upon themselves. I have also experienced same thing in Benin City, Edo State.’’
The filmmaker whose latest work, ‘Gbege’ was released in October 2022, stated that there was a time one the crew members on his film project said they wouldn’t pay any of the louts and fights ensued.
He said that during the squabble, some of the area boys got injured, adding that in a similar situation they fled from the location to avert trouble.
Imasuen noted that things would be better if a functional system was put in place.
He added, “I have shot movies in other countries. What we do in some of these countries is to seek permission from the government and once it is granted, that is it. We don’t need to see any street lords. I have shot a movie in Hollywood, United States of America. When we got approval, nobody came to disrupt our work. We need to make the country functional so that things will fall in place.”
Speaking about his early years in the industry and how the area boys operated at the time, the film-maker said that the louts had always been part of society, stating that they were not as vicious and audacious as they were now.
He said, “We used to shoot films in Amuwo Odofin, FESTAC, Satellite Town, etc back then and it was difficult for anyone to say ‘give me money before you can shoot any film.’ As the years went by, the louts grew massively and became uncontrollable.”
It’s the same experience for another consummate film-maker, Teco Benson. He noted that he experienced movie shooting disruptions only in Lagos State. He stated that outside the state, people often appreciate him and are willing to offer support whenever he’s shooting movies.
Benson stated, “But in Lagos, louts prefer to disrupt my shooting and demand money especially on the Island. My team and I have experienced such ugly incidents on set. There was a time I was working with a partner who came from the United States of America, and we had a scene around Oniru, Lagos. Area boys came out in their usual way and even slapped my movie partner when he spoke to them. It was a horrible scene. The issue happens in almost every movie I shoot.”
He also explained that he usually prepares for the louts in advance by having someone to liaise with them when at locations.
He added, “Nevertheless, whenever one ‘settles’ a particular group, other groups will emerge. This situation made me ask the group I gave money to stay with my crew throughout the duration of our shooting. This has not yielded much result as the louts can promise to stay, collect the money and still leave. Sometimes, a group will call another group to come and collect their share. It is that terrible.’’
Commenting on the solution to the menace, he urged the government to step in and make a law so that once a lout was reported, he could be prosecuted.
“Sometimes, when we call the police, they are even scared of the louts. We have tried shooting with police presence, but the boys will still come to challenge us.
“If government can make a law that will make the offenders to be arrested, the law will take its course. But as long as it is left open like that, we will continue to witness such incidents. When you take security men along, it doesn’t stop the havoc. Lagos is having a problem of touting everywhere. The development is affecting creative people ensuring employment, tourism and development,’’ he stated.
Noting that the situation made him avoid shooting movies in some areas, Benson lamented that the louts destroy movie equipment if not given money without knowing the worth of the tools.
According to him, Nigerian film-makers undergo intense stress in producing movies.
For another movie-maker, Elvis Chucks, touting continues to take a toll on the industry. He told our correspondent that in areas such as Ogombo, Ajah, louts are rampant and always on the ground to extort film-makers. It was gathered that actors are not excluded from the extortion as they are also compelled to part with money when sighted at film locations.
Chucks said, “Personally, I have never had to confront any lout and there will be no reason for that. I think the Lagos State Government has to look into the issue. If the louts feel entitled to the money of filmmakers, then there is a reason for that and the only person that can address the issue is the government.
“However, louts have never broken any of my movie equipment because I also know how to behave with them. If I am going to places where I know they will be, I go with security agents.’’
Confrontations on social media
In May 2022, actress and film-maker, Omoni Oboli, posted a video on Instagram, where she was seen confronting a lout disrupting her movie set.
In the video, she told the lout, “Oga, you don’t want to see the other side of me. I have permission from the head of the royal corporation (to shoot here). You really want to do this? Are you kidding me? Can you get out of my shot? Let me tell you something. Two things are going to happen. If I don’t get to shoot this today, you are sleeping in jail. Trust me on this one.”
On her Instagram page, she wrote, “These people make shooting so tiring! When you try to come between me and my work, I get mad! This guy probably thought he could mess with a small woman. It shocked him today! Me that I haven’t closed my eyes for almost 48 hours and my body is already peppering me already. I can’t stop and I won’t stop.”
Also, in March 2021, another actress and film-maker, Toyin Abraham and her crew, including Oluwatosin Ogunleye aka Bro Bouche, were attacked by louts while shooting. She posted on Instagram, “What happened to me and crew today, in the history of my film career, I have never seen! I thank you almighty God for our lives.” The incident left one of her hands injured.
Besides, a veteran actor in the Yoruba genre of Nollywood, Taiwo Hassan, otherwise called Ogogo, in June 2022, posted a video on Instagram of him fighting an unruly fan.
He wrote, “Before bloggers pick this up, let me tell my side of the story and the truth. I was in Ilaro, (Ogun State) my hometown, for an inspection of a project, after which some unknown guys walked up to me for the normal appraisal. ‘We watch your movie,’ ‘give up (us) money, ‘We watched you all through our childhood’…All these as an actor we hear every day.
“I offered all I had on me and one of them dragged me by my ‘agbada’ and demanded an amount I can’t (sic) pay. I asked him to leave me, he said, ‘Do your worse (sic).’ The rest is story. Do you pay anyone for doing your job? No. It’s our job too. Accept all we offer when we do. Remember, once a boxer, always a boxer.”
Most of the film-makers noted that the situation stretched budget limits and elongated productions as they had to spend more time on shooting than initially planned for.
Nollywood history, challenges
The Nigerian film industry, popularly known as Nollywood, has grown in leaps and bounds over the years to be among the top film producers in the world. Some of its pioneers such as Hubert Ogunde, Adeyemi Afolayan aka Ade Love, Ola Balogun, Moses Olaiya aka Baba Sala, John Amata, and Eddie Ugbomah produced profound works firming the industry’s footing.
From stage plays, VCDs, DVDs to celluloid, Nollywood became prominent as many movie lovers focused attention on the industry. The cinemas now offer the platforms for film enthusiasts to watch the latest movies in the country. The industry grew with little funding and is now a source of livelihood for its diverse practitioners. It has also helped to create jobs in different areas. From costumiers, make-up artistes, videographers, directors, scriptwriters, producers, directors, cinematographers to production managers among others, Nollywood has become a hub for creative individuals.
In an interview with our correspondent on October 30, 2022, actor Pope Odonwodo, aka Junior Pope, said that acting was his major source of income until recently. He said, “I did not have a side hustle until recently. I started acting professionally in 2008 and everything I own, including cars and houses, were acquired from my involvement in Nollywood.”
However, practitioners like other Nigerians have experienced the worsening insecurity in the country. In January 2022, actress Bimpe Akintunde, aka Wasila Coded, expressed gratitude to God for escaping kidnapping on Ibadan expressway.
She wrote on Instagram, “To God be the glory we arrived at our home in Lagos not too long ago. It’s Thanksgiving Sunday for me today. Let’s be careful on (Lagos) Ibadan express (way). I escaped a bandit attack at around after five (pm) this evening, after Oni-Garri on my way to Lagos. They were shooting at all the vehicles coming from Ibadan. They’re like 10 in army uniform shooting directly at us.
“God saved me and my daughter. I can’t believe this. Like they were shooting directly at us!!! Where are we going in this country? Broad daylight attack!”
Also in August 2022, two Nollywood actors, Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel (Agbogidi), regained freedom after they were abducted in Enugu State. In a statement by the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Director of Communications, Monalisa Chinda-Coker, the guild noted that the victims were released unhurt.
In a recent interview with our correspondent, President, AGN, Emeka Rollas, lamented the industry’s lack of structure. He also said that at a time when the government decided to support the industry, the practitioners were not prepared to access the fund.
Rollas said, “One of the greatest problems of the industry is not just about government support. If one needs government money, one must stand on a structure. Nollywood, as it presently is, lacks structure. However, we are trying to structure our guild; not Nollywood. If we are able to structure the guild, we will lead the pack.
“If Nollywood’s structure was intact, it would be easier for the government to put in funding. The last time the Federal Government tried to support Nollywood was when former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration gave the industry a whooping N3bn. One cannot put N3bn into an industry that has no structure. Till today, nobody can give an account of what happened. The Bank of Industry also came up with a fund, and outlined what needed to be done for people to access the funds. In the course of that, it was realised that the majority of Nollywood practitioners did not have things they could use as a collateral.”
Legal solution to the menace
In his contribution to the issue, an entertainment lawyer, Femi Njoku, said that the activities of louts had become institutionalised and being enabled by the government, adding that it was caused by poverty and unemployment.
He stated that their activities were not job-related, stating that their disturbance would be tackled if the system was right.
He advised film-makers to go to locations with security agents and liaise with community leaders and police while on set to ensure safety of their lives and property.
The lawyer stated that if Nigeria improved security-wise, some activities such as touting would end because it was an institutional problem.
He further said that the movie-makers could push for a law to protect them and their filming equipment on locations and prosecute the louts.
Njoku said, “The area boys thrive because they report to people who are in power. The question is, who are they reporting to? Some of these people report to local government chairmen and others. They are an organised crime with actors in the government. These people use them when they need them for ‘dirty’ jobs. This issue was caused by failed leadership. The touts also pay returns to policemen. It is all organised crime.”
In his view, another entertainment lawyer, Idris Balogun, stated that the first solution was for the film-makers professional body to liaise with security operatives.
Balogun added, “The statutory duty of the Nigerian Police Force is to maintain law and order. The Force will come in to provide security to the film-makers at any of their locations. Also, let it be on record that the louts are criminals because it is a criminal offence to incite public unrest. If any of the louts are caught, they should be prosecuted and if found guilty, they should be jailed. This will serve as a deterrent to others who would want to follow in such footsteps.”
Police position
The spokesperson for the police in Lagos State, Benjamin Hundeyin, said that he had received several calls from film-makers when on set.
He noted that he provided options for them which they had adhered to, stating however that there were some film-makers who didn’t reach out to the police because they felt that nothing would be done.
Hundeyin added, “A couple of times that people (filmmakers) call me, I give them the phone numbers of the Divisional Police Officers nearest to where they are shooting. The DPOs have gone there to ensure that no one is harassed but some people (film-makers) chose not to report. They just assume that the police will not do anything. That is unfair. What I can say is that everyone that has called out the police in the face of harassment, we always respond.
“Other film-makers usually tell us before they go on set that they are going to be shooting at a particular place for us to be aware of. Our patrol vehicle is around so that there are no complaints.”
On accusation that the police were often overpowered by the louts accused of remitting money to the government, Hundeyin said, “Those are speculations and I have not heard of that before. I cannot confirm that. If the film-makers have complaints about that, they should report to us officially so that we can look into it.”
He also said that there was no permanent solution to the menace because there were street boys everywhere in the world.
The spokesperson stated, “More so, it is the duty of the government to make laws to stop the activities of the louts. There is no long-lasting solution. Anywhere in the world, there are always street and area boys who like to take advantage of other people. When the police hear complaints, we go there to arrest them and take them to court for constituting public nuisance. That is where we stop. If the magistrate decides to give them two months for constituting public nuisance and they disappear and return to the streets, people erroneously say police collect money and left them which is not true.
“What they (louts) do is not felony. The area boys do not kill anybody; they only constituted public nuisance and we do our best and charged them to court. We cannot lock them up forever.’’
He stated that perhaps the government could create a lasting solution through a law to jail anyone of them found guilty. Hundeyin said, “But we don’t make the law; it is for the government to do.”
