The devastating story of Christianah Idowu, a bright 300-level student of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has left many Nigerians heartbroken and outraged.
Abducted while on her way to the University of Lagos for her industrial training, Christianah’s life was tragically cut short by Ayomide Adeleye, a 200-level Philosophy student of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State.
For two agonizing weeks, Christianah’s family held on to hope, desperately awaiting her return.
The kidnappers had initially demanded a ransom of ₦3 million but eventually agreed to ₦350,000 after the family’s emotional pleas. Despite the payment, the abductors cruelly refused to release her.
The nightmare unraveled when security forces tracked Christianah’s phone to Adeleye’s residence in Ikorodu, Lagos State. What they discovered was unimaginable. Adeleye confessed to killing Christianah and burying her in a shallow grave at his home.
The revelation sent shockwaves across Nigeria, with the hashtag #JusticeForChristiana trending on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Thousands of posts poured in, expressing grief, anger, and demanding justice for the young student whose life was senselessly taken.
Adeleye’s horrifying confession and the discovery of seven phones, as well as an email address he used to confirm ransom payments, only deepened the tragedy.
In a chilling turn of events, he had even provided Christianah’s mother with a bank account to deposit the ransom money.
The Nigerian Army’s 174 Battalion apprehended Adeleye after linking the ransom payments to his account. He attempted to take his own life during interrogation but was stopped.
Christianah’s death has left a lasting scar on her family, friends, and the entire nation. The outpouring of grief on social media reflects the collective heartache felt by all who have heard her story. Nigerians now call for swift justice for Christianah, ensuring her tragic end is not in vain.
Her light may have been cruelly extinguished, but the demand for justice burns brighter than ever.