A Peek into AJ

Entry: Thursday, 16th April, 2026 5:40pm

For the first time in a rather long time (or maybe in forever), I’m doing this without background music in my ears.

My phone was stolen last night, or very early minutes of this morning. I really don’t know when but I know I can’t believe I just wrote that.

I woke up few minutes after 12am and I couldn’t find my phone at the edge of the bed where I left it to charge. I thought it fell down or something, and so I checked everywhere with Tosin. It was nowhere, so she started calling my number and it was unreachable. Everywhere first blur for real. My phone is (or was) almost never unreachable.

Sometime during the frantic search, I looked up at my window and I saw that the sliding net was left open—wide open and my heart dropped.

“Jesus! Tosin, the window is open!”

I looked down at where the rest of my stuff used to be and that was when I noticed that the headphones Tosin got me barely two weeks ago were gone, and my laptop charger was gone. Thank God my laptop was still there. Thank You Jesus that my laptop is here with me.

We went behind to gauge the possibility of it being an actual robbery and not a prank as we both initially thought and there were no footprints, and the windows are really high. I’m 5’10 (6ft on a good day) and I could barely touch the window and so we didn’t think someone came through the back. So yeah, definitely prank still.

I didn’t want to raise alarm because this was 1am, after a gruelling three days of exams. People were sleeping. In retrospect, I wish I raised alarm sooner.

Tosin, Joanna and Lolade helped me reach out and a security man came a few minutes later. He took the victim history, apologised for the loss, said they’d investigate, encouraged me to not let it distract me from my exams… which is great advice in theory but in practice?

I was really skeptical about letting the authorities know because in these climes, somehow the victim always gets blamed. Thankfully, he didn’t do that.

When he left my room and was about to leave the hostel, two other girls who are 2 and 3 doors away also noticed that their phones were gone. Same MO; open window and all. Maybe I was still holding out hope that I’d get my stuff back, but when I heard this new development, I just knew that my phone and headphones were gone. Like gone gone.

I was so confused, too confused. There was an actual robber that gained access to our hostel area while we were asleep? There was an actual robber that came very close to my head when I was asleep, disconnected my phone from the charger, took the phone, saw headphones and was like ‘cool’, picked my laptop charger and moved on to rob others?

I don’t think the others happened immediately. I’m so sure that when Tosin and I went behind to check, this person was still very much around and could see us, because I sent a message to our hostel group chat after we checked to see if anyone had information on my belongings, and one of the girls whose phone was taken saw that message before sleeping. Less than an hour later, her phone was gone too.

That’s so scary. The thought still gives me chills. Thinking of all the ways we could’ve been hurt right now, and, omo! Thank God that the story is not different. Thank You God that the story isn’t different.

The hostel was chaotic for a few hours after that, and it just felt like I was in limbo, going back and forth through the motions. It still didn’t feel real, because I was just making light of the situation, smiling and thanking people who showed concern and offered condolences. I’m so grateful for my friends and classmates for having so much sympathy/empathy through this hard day. My friends prayed with me, came to check on me, sent messengers because I was rudely teleported back to stone age. It all made me feel very warm inside.

I tried to read but I just couldn’t focus on anything, so I watched The Office (the Pilot, Diversity Day). I watched the Basketball one much later and let the records show that it’s one of my favourite episodes in the entire show, but I digress massively.

I finally went back to sleep around 5 or 6am-ish, and I was awakened by like 7am, because the new security on duty wanted me to retell what happened. That was so annoying, but I get it I guess. Omo, thank God I didn’t have exam today sha.

When they finally left me alone, I did what I had been dreading since my phone disappeared. I called my parents. I really didn’t want to tell them not because I was scared that they would blame me, or make me feel terrible. I know my parents better than that.

I didn’t want to tell them because I hate that this felt like plus one reason for them to second-guess the safety of their child.

I called my mum, and for the first time since the whole thing happened, my eyes welled up. I really hated telling her that. She was really worried, but I made myself sound chill about the situation, then we started taking all the My phone was stolen 101 steps for damage control.

I called my dad a couple hours later because I learned he was in transit. He was also so confused, but his immediate response was telling me not to worry because, “I will buy another one for you.” My eyes pooled then, and they’re swimming as I write this.

Of course, I knew before I called him that he’d get me another phone because I mean, he’s my daddy. I know my parents will move mountains and traverse valleys for my comfort because I’ve seen them do it time and time again. But hearing him say it mehn! I currently don't have words for how I felt in that moment—for how I feel right now.

I’m so grateful for my parents. I’m so grateful for my family. They’re number one reason I’m grateful the story isn’t worse, because those guys deserve goodnews everyday. Gosh, now I’m full on weeping. Darling, it’s okay. This damn journal bro, always bringing stuff out of me.

I got encouragement and care from every corner that day. My girls came to check on me after their test. I felt so shy because I hate attention, especially this kind. But I appreciate how kind a lot of people have been about this. My community> > >

Anywho, there’s no good time to have your phone stolen but in the middle of your final MBBS exams is definitely diabolical timing. Crazy work ngl.

I know God is with me, and I know He will help me just like He’s started doing. I was doing a video log of my entire experience on Snapchat, but yeah. Bye to that. All is well.

Though we pass through tribulations, all will be well.

AJ, all—all is well.

Today, I was reminded that my life does not consist of the material things I have. I was also reminded heavily, that there is love at home! There is love at home! There is love at home!

Thank You God. Thank You.

Currently phoneless babe,

Cassia (+my signature).

Yes, I sign after every journal entry. It's very serious business.

---

So, this is the first ever journal entry I’m sharing. Feels weird letting y’all read my crazy.

This was such a day, you guys. Typing this was a bit healing. I just had to keep a lid on my mind to keep from spiralling so I could get through my exams.

With everything I had going on, this was definitely the dogonyaro derived icing on the locust beans flavoured cake.

I heard “Sorry about what happened” so much, it started to get annoying but now I appreciate the people that cared. And I understand why the sorrys were a lot, because my phone 😭. I really miss my phone. I really miss my dawg. But win some, lose some I guess. Don’t know what I won yet, but whatevs.

Really miss my girl

The headphones? That’s still a sore spot. If I catch that thief!!! So wicked.

On the faintly bright side, my laptop charger was recovered behind the fence later that morning, and thank God it was still working.

How I see God’s kindness and mercy in all of this

1. Basically all of my academic stuff is on my laptop, thankfully it wasn't taken.

2. I make physical notes for almost everything school related, and I rarely ever read on my phone so the exam concerns I had were all information related, as in groupchats and all.

3. A very kind friend gave me her second phone to use pending when I got a replacement. Meant the world to me.

4. My laptop was right there with the headphones. It’s just God’s mercy that it wasn’t taken.

5. I’m alive. I wasn’t hurt. Nobody was hurt. Yes, I’m much more paranoid and I have palpitations with every sound I hear outside my window but that just shows that my nervous system is functioning. God will help me through it.

I’d like to add that this is how I feel a week later, definitely didn't feel like this in the moment. I still get very sad about it, but I was able to find a few silver linings with the help of God.

I’ve said a lot. In summary, buy chain and padlock for your phones kids.

Bye.

Thank you for being here.