A chilling personal testimony shared online has triggered massive reactions after a tenant alleged that her landlord secretly used spiritual practices to exchange tenants’ destinies for money, all while pretending to be kind and generous.
The narrator, identified simply as Ella, said what looked like a rare blessing slowly turned into a real-life horror story she may never recover from.
Five Years of Free Rent That Felt Like a Miracle
According to Ella, she lived with several roommates in an apartment owned by a man popularly known as Baba Awani.
For five straight years, the landlord never collected rent.
Despite multiple attempts by the tenants to pay, Baba Awani allegedly refused, smiling and telling them to keep the money because “the economy is hard.” Instead, he only asked for small ritual items like schnapps and kola nuts, claiming they were needed for prayers.
Grateful and relieved, the tenants nicknamed him “God’s envoy,” believing they were divinely favoured.
Then Everything Started Going Wrong
Ella said the strange generosity soon came with unexplainable misfortune.
- She and her roommates lost their banking jobs
- Job interviews kept failing mysteriously
- Her fiancé suddenly left her
- Other tenants suffered broken relationships, sudden illnesses, death, or forced relocation
- Doctors allegedly could not explain some of the health conditions
Despite their suffering, no rent was ever demanded.
Other Tenants’ Lives Also Collapsed
Ella claimed the pattern extended beyond her own flat.
- Mama Sounadine, once a thriving clothes seller, now allegedly survives by begging for garri
- Papa Hugo, who once owned three cars, now reportedly walks barefoot after suffering a stroke
All of them still lived under the same landlord — rent-free.
The Forbidden Room No One Was Allowed to Enter
Things reached a breaking point when Baba Awani travelled to his village for a festival and allegedly forgot to lock a side door.
That door led to a room he always called a “Prayer Hall,” which tenants were strictly warned never to enter.
Driven by fear and desperation, the tenants entered the room at midnight while he was away.
What they found inside changed everything.
Clay Dolls, Candles, and Tenants’ Names
Inside the dark room, Ella said they saw:
- Red candles burning in a circle
- Ten clay dolls arranged on the floor
- Each doll had a name tag matching a tenant
One doll labelled Mama Sounadine was tightly wrapped in rags.
Another labelled Papa Hugo had broken legs — matching his real-life condition after his stroke.
Locked Mouths, Black Nylon, and Money
Ella said the dolls bearing her name and her roommates’ names were wrapped in black nylon, with their mouths padlocked shut.
She claimed this explained why:
- They could not speak confidently in interviews
- Opportunities kept slipping away
At the centre of the room was a large calabash filled with fresh 1,000 franc notes, which she believes represented the money made from their stolen destinies.
“That was when we knew our free rent was not free,” she said.
A Talking Black Cat and a Death Warning
As Ella reached out to touch one of the dolls, she claimed a deep voice suddenly warned her that breaking it would cause instant death.
She said the voice came from a large black cat sitting on the landlord’s chair.
According to her, the cat spoke like a human and warned her that interfering would lead to madness or death.
They Ran and Never Looked Back
Terrified, the tenants ran out of the room, the compound, and the area, not stopping until they felt safe.
Moments later, Ella said her phone started ringing.
She claimed it was Baba Awani calling.
Her final words were chilling:
“He knows.”
Online Reactions
The story has since gone viral, with Nigerians debating whether it reflects:
- Spiritual manipulation
- Psychological trauma
- Folklore rooted in fear
- Or a warning about “free things that cost too much”
One thing is certain — the account has left many shaken.
Would you stay in a house with five years of free rent… or run?
What do you think — coincidence or something darker?
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