Main suspect in Christianah Idowu’s killing arrested
In a tragic development that has captured national attention, the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that Ayomide Adeleye, the prime suspect in the abduction and murder of Christianah Idowu, a 300-level student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), is now in custody. The 23-year-old suspect was handed over to the police by the Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade at approximately 2 pm on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
The announcement was made via social media by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin. He disclosed in a brief statement that the suspect is currently undergoing investigation. “Ayomide Adeleye has been handed over to the Lagos Police Command by the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army. The handover took place today at about 1400hrs. Investigation is ongoing,” Hundeyin stated.
The case of Christianah Idowu has stirred public outrage and calls for justice from across Nigeria, including from prominent celebrities such as singers Adekunle Gold and Ayra Starr, who have used their platforms to demand a thorough investigation and accountability for the young woman’s untimely death.
Christianah Idowu, a bright and promising 300-level student at FUNAAB, had her life cut short after being kidnapped while traveling from her home in Ikorodu to the University of Lagos (UNILAG) in Yaba, where she was undergoing her industrial training. Her abduction and eventual murder occurred between August 19 and August 26, 2024, sending shockwaves through the community.
It was reported that after Christianah’s disappearance, her abductors reached out to her family using her phone, demanding a ransom of ₦3 million for her release. Her family, unable to raise the full amount, managed to negotiate the ransom down to ₦350,000, which they immediately transferred to the account specified by the kidnappers. Despite complying with the demand, Christianah was not released.
According to an in-depth thread on X (formerly Twitter) by a user known as @letter_to_jack, who provided extensive details of the case, the nightmare for Christianah’s family began on August 19, 2024, when she was declared missing. The kidnappers made contact with her family that same evening via WhatsApp, using the victim’s own phone. They sent photos of Christianah in captivity through WhatsApp’s “view once” feature, and demanded the initial ransom of ₦1.5 million.
Despite the family’s desperate efforts to comply with the kidnappers’ demands, the communications soon went cold after they transferred ₦350,000 to a bet account provided by the abductors. The family grew increasingly worried as days passed without further contact from the abductors, and they eventually sought help from law enforcement authorities.
By August 26, intelligence operatives began a detailed investigation into the case. They soon discovered that the ransom money sent by Christianah’s family had been deposited into a betting account. Further probing revealed that funds from Christianah’s personal account had also been transferred to a Wema Bank account belonging to the main suspect, Ayomide Adeleye.
Through diligent tracking of phone and banking activities, investigators identified Ayomide as a person of interest. The suspect was found to have a close personal relationship with Christianah, as evidenced by mutual interactions on their social media platforms. As police dug deeper, damning evidence began to mount against him.
On September 3, 2024, after days of surveillance and investigation, soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 174 Battalion arrested Ayomide at his family home in Ikorodu. Upon his arrest, police found critical evidence linking him to the crime, including Christianah’s mobile phone and records of the financial transactions made through her account.
Following his arrest, Ayomide reportedly confessed to his father and the authorities that he had indeed murdered Christianah. He also revealed that he had buried her body in the compound of their house. Further investigation into Ayomide’s background has uncovered disturbing allegations that this may not have been his first murder. There are reports that two other young women, including his ex-girlfriend and his biological sister, met a similar fate in 2018 and 2020, respectively. These claims are currently being investigated.
Christianah’s kidnapping and murder have reignited public discourse on safety, justice, and the rising cases of gender-based violence in Nigeria. The involvement of prominent Nigerian entertainers such as Adekunle Gold and Ayra Starr in the call for justice has helped amplify the case, drawing widespread attention from both the public and the media.
In the days following Christianah’s disappearance, #JusticeForChristianah trended on social media, with Nigerians expressing their shock, grief, and anger over the incident. Many urged law enforcement to act swiftly and ensure that those responsible for the heinous crime are brought to justice.
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, where Christianah was a student, also issued a statement mourning the loss of one of their own. The university condemned the abduction and murder in strong terms, while calling on the authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and prosecution of the perpetrator.
With Ayomide now in police custody, investigators are working to gather further evidence to ensure that the case is airtight when it goes to trial. The Lagos State Police Command has assured the public that it will leave no stone unturned in its efforts to secure justice for Christianah and her grieving family.
As more details of the investigation emerge, the public is waiting anxiously for justice to be served in what has become one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing cases of 2024. Christianah Idowu’s tragic death has not only sent shockwaves through her university community and her family, but also served as a sobering reminder of the ongoing challenges of security and violence faced by young women across Nigeria.
Her family, now grappling with the unimaginable loss of their beloved daughter, continues to mourn, while the nation stands in solidarity, hoping that Christianah’s death will not be in vain and that it will lead to real change in ensuring justice and safety for all.
