Ayomide Adeleye, a 23-year-old philosophy student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), has confessed to the murder of 18-year-old Christiana Idowu, a female church member. In a chilling account, Adeleye, now in custody at the Lagos State Police Command Tactical Unit, explained that financial difficulties drove him to commit the crime.

In a report by Vanguard, Adeleye admitted that he lured Idowu, an industrial training student at Yaba College of Technology, to his residence under the pretense of fixing her phone. “I killed her because I had financial problems,” Adeleye revealed.

The incident took place when Idowu visited Adeleye’s home around 5 p.m. on the day of the murder. “She came to our house and asked me to repair her phone,” he recalled. Once inside, Adeleye grabbed her and suffocated her. “I squeezed her throat until she gave up,” he said, detailing the horrific attack.

After the murder, Adeleye buried Idowu’s body in a shallow grave behind his compound in the early morning hours. He then proceeded to extort N360,000 from the victim’s mother by falsely claiming her daughter had been kidnapped. “The first thing I said to her was, ‘Hello, madam, we have your daughter,’” Adeleye confessed.

In his desperation for money, Adeleye initially demanded N3 million but later accepted N350,000, which was deposited into his SportyBet account. He requested an additional N10,000 after the initial payment.

His arrest came after police traced the SportyBet account, which Adeleye had linked to his National Identification Number (NIN). “Once I uploaded my NIN, all my personal details—my location, my address, my name—were already on the account,” he said, acknowledging how his attempts to conceal his identity led to his capture.

Adeleye expressed regret for his actions, particularly the close relationship between his mother and the victim’s mother. “I don’t deserve any mercy for what I’ve done. I regret it deeply and ask God for forgiveness,” he said. He also admitted to contemplating suicide while in custody, stating that he sought ways to end his life but was unable to do so.

Adeleye’s confession has sparked widespread condemnation, with many calling for justice for the young victim, Christiana Idowu.

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