Abstract
In Nigeria, thuggery is a pervasive and multifaceted issue, intertwining violence, politics, and social dynamics in a way that poses significant challenges to the nation's stability and progress. This essay focuses on the depiction of thuggery in Nigerian society, as presented in Jade Osiberu's film Gangs of Lagos. It examines how the author uses various dramatic elements to provide insights into the dangers associated with thuggery. The methodological approach utilized in this study is the qualitative method because it helps unveil the feelings, perceptions, and attitudes that Osiberu have towards the issue as well as how to curb them. This essay adopts Postcolonial theory, examining the lasting impacts of colonial rule on countries and individuals, particularly cultural, political, and social effects. Subaltern theory within this framework emphasizes the importance of giving voice to marginalized perspectives, challenging dominant narratives, and highlighting struggles in Nigerian society. Osiberu's work serves as a representation of this marginalized group (thuggery), providing insights into their experiences and struggles. The findings also reveal that thuggery in Nigeria is driven by poverty, unemployment, and political corruption, leading to violence and insecurity. Hence, the study concludes the subversive nature of thuggery and identifies the subversion of dreams and destinies, law and order, as well as the electoral processes as dangerous effects of thugs in Nigeria's socio-political space.
