Every week, Culture Custodian engages with Nigerians, inviting them to share their personal experiences. This time, three individuals recount their eerie encounters with the supernatural—experiences that convinced them ghosts and paranormal forces are real.

Julie’s Story: Footsteps on the Ceiling

As a child, Julie often had sleepovers with her friend Gina. One night, she decided to visit Gina’s house in Maitama. After a fun-filled day, they fell asleep, but Julie woke up to the sound of footsteps. Expecting Gina’s parents, she was startled when the noise came from above the ceiling—despite them being on the top floor. Turning on the light, she saw footprints on the ceiling, as if someone had walked upside down. Gina, surprisingly unfazed, revealed that her father once mentioned the house was haunted 30 years ago, though they had prayed about it. Julie never spent the night there again and struggled with a fear of sleeping alone for a long time.

Shola’s Story: The Classroom Phantom

As an architecture student, Shola often stayed late in class working on technical drawing assignments. One evening, while finishing his work during Night Prep, he heard someone chuckling behind him. Assuming it was younger students playing pranks, he ignored it until he saw a figure peeking into the room. Frustrated, he stepped outside to confront the prankster but saw someone dart into the neighboring classroom. When he followed, he heard voices inside, yet the room was empty. Terrified, he ran out, and his friends only believed him when they later had a similar encounter. It seemed as though something had mimicked their voices.

Samira’s Story: A Face from the Grave

Samira’s seemingly normal evening turned into a nightmare while walking home with her boyfriend in Kaduna. She suddenly spotted a familiar face—a young man from her neighborhood who had died three years earlier in a tragic electrocution accident. Certain it was him, she told her boyfriend, who decided to approach the man to prove her wrong. When he tapped him on the shoulder and pointed towards Samira, the figure turned, made eye contact, and instantly vanished. Overcome with fear, she ran for her life. Though she had always dismissed ghost stories, this experience changed her beliefs forever.

These accounts are based on real-life events, with names changed to protect the identities of those involved.