By Afolabi Aribigbola

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One of the menaces plaguing the Nigerian society for a very long time is the issue of thuggery and its associated violence that usually results in destruction of precious lives and properties. This ugly phenomenon as well as its destructive tendency got to the Nigerian national space through party politics in the early 1960s. Since then, thugs with their vices have been part and parcel of Nigerian political system till date. Infact it has gathered more membership and their activities have equally become widespread in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria. No community is spared of their destructive activities.
Indeed, beside the spread of their activities to all parts of the country, their retrogressive and dangerous influence have also extended to all facets of Nigeria in recent times, where, miscreants publicly harass, intimidate, beat up, molest and extort money and other valuables from innocent members of the public with impunity. They operate in virtually all areas including motor parks, higher institutions of learning, along the major streets, parties and other gatherings including new building construction sites. The progress Nigeria and Nigerians have made in other aspects of life seems not attractive to those engaging in this nefarious venture.
The recent development in certain towns in Ondo State where thugs have been deployed to torment, harass, intimidate and beat innocent and law-abiding citizens is a pointer to the urgent need for the state and law enforcement agents to do the needful before these activities escalate further to cause more harm. Thus, if this ugly development is not stamped out, it will continue to destroy our age-old tradition of order and respect for elders and would cause more damage to the country. How long can the society at large continue to look the other way as if the activities of the group are not injurious to her people and prosperity? At the same time, it is innocent and vulnerable members of the country that continue to suffer from the activities of the thugs.
Thuggery has been described as a violent behaviour especially of a criminal nature. They are acts of violence or behaviour of ruffians. Their stock in trade is physical intimidation and attacks on people and their properties. Those that engaged in these vices are usually school dropouts, the unemployed youths and those looking for quick means of making money. Thuggery is becoming a means to an end. Many people in Nigeria now depend on this undignified means of making a living by intimidation, gangsterism, murder, physical assault and inflicting violence on others especially the vulnerable. Most of the times, they engage in these activities to please the powers that be or the upper echelon of the Nigerian society.
A number of reasons heave been adduced as causes and propagation of thuggery in Nigeria like other developing countries of Africa that are experiencing similar disgraceful act. The prominent cause of thuggery as we all know is politics. In the past, thugs were engaged by politicians to rig and win elections at all cost whether they were popular or not. Nowadays, their activities and uses have gone far beyond party politics. The prevalent and promotion of violet activities and other misdemeanor are a consequence of poverty and unemployment in the country. Many youths because of lack of employment opportunities enter this dangerous game with impunity to find something to do to be able to feed themselves and raise a family. It is common to see young people better known as areas boys especially in parties and some locations dressed in fearful appearances and costumes requesting for money from people. They will disorganize and disrupt parties if their demands for money are not met.
In some other cases it has become an offence for people to buy and commence building projects without making payment to thugs. It is that bad in most of Nigerians cities. They pride themselves as “OmoOnile” translated children of the owner of the land or “area boys”. Even when you have paid fully for your land and have obtained and paid for all government statutory fees, you must pay them otherwise they will not allow you to commence your project and when you are lucky to have started, they will violently stop the work. Unfortunately, in some cities, the traditional institutions support them and in some situations the security agents watch helplessly when these people are carrying out their nefarious activities.
Beside the issue of politics and widespread poverty, financial attractiveness of the detestable act is another factor luring young people into the trade. Many thugs have become very wealthy and are openly displaying such wealth with impunity. Of course, these prominent thugs walk in company of Governors, Senators, and other ranking politicians. Thus, it is easier for a thug to see state functionaries including Governors, Senators and Ministers than any other individual in Nigeria. Things are that bad and it is promoting the growth and development of thuggery in the country. This kind of tendency, a sad commentary, has been encouraging more and more youth to enter this despicable trade. The destruction of our cherished and highly priced value system in which an individual is rejected by even his own people when he accumulates wealth in questionable circumstances has also contributed to thuggery. The seeming ineffectiveness of security agencies to nip the act in the dub also accounts for the growing incidence of thuggery and influence especially among the youths.
Thuggery is not only bad because it has been used to kill and maimed many promising Nigerians, it has cut short the dream of many people who should be doing well in the professions. Those who engage in thuggery are known to indulge in taking dangerous and banned substances such as Indian helm, abuse, and misuse of drugs. The consequences have been that many are hooked on these drugs and unable to function without drugs. Many have become not only drug addicts but insane. Thuggery is bad because it hinders accountability of elective officers. Politicians surround themselves with fearful thugs that prevent people from reaching them. And if you have the audacity or courage to criticize them, their thugs will beat and harass you. Through the instrumentality of thuggery, they become inaccessible to their constituents and unable to hear from them as well.
Thuggery also discourages and prevents development. In this context, many projects have been relocated or delayed because of the activities of thugs. This is because you must pay before you commence any project in their locality, otherwise, they will vandalize and, in some cases, steal components of the projects. I need to add that most of the times the end of thugs are usually miserable. This is because they would have indulged in dangerous acts and loaded their body system with dangerous substances including banned drugs that may invariably terminate their lives.
Indeed, and without mincing words, the phenomenon of thuggery has been entrenched in all facets of Nigeria. The current dimension is not only worrisome but very dangerous to the health and prosperity Nigeria. What then do we do? Do we as a people look the other way and allow the dangerous act with its negative consequences continue? The need to attack the cankerworm is now before it destroys the future of Nigeria.
To solve the problem of thuggery in Nigeria the educational system of the country needs to be revamped. The education system must be expanded and improved to accommodate more children that are out of school at the moment. The schools should be better funded, and teachers’ welfare improved so that they can be more committed to molding our youths to better citizens. Parents need to be more alive to their responsibilities to take more care of their children. Many of them are introduced to bad habits and gangs that lure them into thuggery. The society should develop more programmes and activities to educate and discourage thuggery in the country. In addition, social support systems must be introduced by government at all levels to support the poor and assist youths that have been hooked up in drugs. The law enforcement agents must be more alive to their responsibilities to checkmate and put a stop to thuggery in all parts of Nigeria.