On August 19, 2024, Christiannah Idowu was reported missing after her abductors contacted her parents using her WhatsApp. They sent photos of her in captivity and demanded a ransom of N1.5 million. Her parents managed to raise N350,000, which they sent to a bet account. However, after receiving the money, the kidnappers asked for a bank statement but stopped all communication after the parents complied.
On August 22, some funds were sent from Christiannah’s account to a Wema Bank account linked to a suspect. By August 29, investigators confirmed the betting account, used by the suspect to withdraw N100,000, was in his name. They also discovered the suspect had a personal relationship with Christiannah, as seen through social media interactions.
The suspect was tracked to his parents’ home in Ikorodu, where he was arrested. Evidence, including Christiannah’s phone and bank details, linked the suspect to the crime. The suspect later confessed to killing Christiannah and burying her in the house. Investigations revealed a similar pattern, with his ex-girlfriend in 2018 and his sister in 2020 also killed.