Four individuals are currently in custody following the fatal mob assault of Ibrahim Mbaya, a Political Science student at the University of Jos. During a police parade in Jos on Tuesday, the suspects admitted to attacking Mbaya to coerce him into revealing the location of a missing iPhone.
Mbaya, frequently referred to as Ibee, was subjected to severe torture on Sunday at an apartment near the City of David in Jos North. A graphic video of the incident, which has circulated widely, captures the victim being repeatedly struck with planks and canes, injuries that ultimately proved fatal.
Emmanuel Newyear, a 30-year-old suspect, confessed to striking the victim with a wooden board, stating he acted out of frustration when the victim failed to provide the location of the stolen device. Another participant, Teslor Joshua, admitted to restraining Mbaya while he was being bound with rope. The owner of the missing phone, Rinji Daniel, recounted that he suspected Mbaya of theft after discovering his mobile device and a power bank were missing following the student’s departure from his residence.
The brutality of the act has ignited significant condemnation from the public and advocacy groups, all of whom are demanding accountability. The Plateau State Police Command confirmed that an investigation is actively underway and pledged to prosecute those involved. Authorities have cautioned the public against vigilante justice, urging citizens to report suspected criminal activity to law enforcement rather than resorting to violence.
