What does “village people” mean in Nigerian English?

Village people in Nigerian English does not mean “people who live in a village.” It refers to ancestral or witchcraft forces from one’s home village, said to follow you to the city and cause bad luck. When a Nigerian’s car breaks down, a deal falls through, or a relationship ends, the joking explanation is “my village people are at it again.” The phrase started as a real spiritual belief in many Nigerian communities, became a Nollywood drama trope, and is now a meme used by Nigerians worldwide.

In this classroom clip, a teacher warns students who hand in late work that “after writing them, your village people will visit you.” The line lands as both joke and threat at once.