By Our Reporter
Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-level Philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), has confessed to the murder of Christianah Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Adeleye’s confession, made to the 174 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, concluded a two-week search for the missing student.
The investigation has since been transferred to the Lagos Police Command for further probing. Christianah, who was from the Itaoluwo area of Ikorodu, had been heading to the University of Lagos in Yaba for her industrial training when she was abducted. The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of N3 million. After negotiations, the amount was reduced to N350,000, which her family paid, but Christianah was not released.
Security efforts eventually led to the discovery of her location. Troops tracked her phone to Adeleye’s residence in Ikorodu. Adeleye confessed to killing Christianah and burying her on his property.
The case has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with the hashtag #JusticeForChristiana trending on Nigeria’s X (formerly Twitter) with over 100,000 posts. Many Nigerians have called for justice for the victim and for those responsible to be held accountable.
Investigators traced Adeleye’s identity and actions through the BVN and account details used to collect the ransom. Upon arrest, the military found seven phones and an email address he used to confirm the ransom payment. The account, under the name SportyBet, was frozen after the family paid the ransom on August 21.
Adeleye had used a fabricated email address, musaahmed0288@gmail.com, to facilitate his scheme. On September 1, the 174 Battalion tracked Christianah’s phone to Adeleye’s home, where they apprehended him. During interrogation, Adeleye attempted suicide but was prevented. He has since confessed to burying Christianah in a shallow grave on his property.