Viral Video Shows UNIJOS Graduate Begging for Life Before Mob Killing.
UNIJOS graduate Ibrahim Mbaya killed after accusation of theft, police arrest three suspects as family demands justice.
JOS, Plateau State – A promising young model and University of Jos graduate was beaten to death by a group of friends who accused him of stealing an iPhone, in an incident that has sparked outrage and renewed calls for an end to mob violence in Nigeria.
Ibrahim Mbaya, 25, popularly known as “Ibee,” had attended a social gathering on the evening of July 26 before deciding to spend the night at a friend’s apartment behind the City of David area along Ring Road, Jos . Sources said it was already late and unsafe for him to return to his home in Rayfield.
The following morning, his host reportedly informed him that an iPhone had gone missing. Although some initially claimed it was an iPhone 16, the Plateau State Police Command later clarified that the phone involved was an iPhone 12 . Since the two were reportedly the only occupants of the room, suspicion immediately fell on Mbaya.
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He initially left the apartment but received a call asking him to return. Believing he could easily clear his name, he went back. It was the last decision he would make.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that shortly after Mbaya returned, his friend and several other young men confronted him. Instead of reporting the matter to the police, the group resorted to violence.
A video that has since gone viral on social media shows Mbaya lying on the ground, begging for his life as his attackers strike him with a wooden plank and other objects . Residents said the young model was kicked, slapped, humiliated and tortured for hours as the group attempted to force a confession.
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According to multiple accounts, the torture only stopped after he became unconscious. Sources alleged that instead of immediately seeking emergency medical attention, he was locked inside a room while a nurse was invited to examine him. The nurse reportedly confirmed that he had died.
Mbaya was later taken to the Jos University Teaching Hospital, where doctors confirmed he was dead on arrival.
The Plateau State Police Command said it received information from a Good Samaritan about suspicious circumstances surrounding the arrival of an unconscious young man at JUTH . Police officers from the Lamingo Division responded swiftly.
Three suspects have been arrested: Rinji Daniel Fwanji, Emmanuel Newyear and Nensemka Fwanji . Investigators said one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was seen in the viral video using a large wooden plank to assault the deceased.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted that Mbaya was only suspected of stealing the phone, but instead of reporting the allegation to security agencies, they chose to administer what they considered instant justice . The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, while police say efforts continue to arrest others who participated in the attack.
James Mbaya, the younger brother of Ibrahim, told reporters the family believes the killing was a setup driven by jealousy . “We are convinced that he was set up and killed,” he said. “He was killed out of envy and jealousy. One of the people who brutally attacked him was his closest friend. They had both contested in a modelling competition, where my brother emerged first runner-up in the first stage. Based on the information we received, he became envious of him.”
James described his brother as an excellent cook and a talented dancer who brought joy to people wherever he went. “He was cheerful, friendly and always willing to help others. He had a way of making everyone around him smile, and that is how we will always remember him.”
Government Condemns Killing
The Plateau State Government has condemned the killing in strong terms, describing it as a “barbaric act of jungle justice” that has no place in a democratic society.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap, said: “The sanctity of human life is sacred, and no individual or group has the right to take the law into their own hands under any circumstance. It is deeply disturbing that a young life was cut short based on an unverified accusation.”
The government urged residents to reject mob action and violence in all forms, insisting that suspected offenders should always be handed over to law enforcement authorities for proper investigation and prosecution.
Human rights organisations have also demanded justice. ActionAid Nigeria described the killing as a “grave violation of human rights” and a reflection of the country’s weakening justice system.
Dr. Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, said: “A missing phone must never become a death sentence. Mob violence is not justice; it is a violation of the right to life and human dignity. Ibrahim’s killing reflects a system in which public trust has broken down, security institutions are too often absent or slow to respond, and people increasingly believe they can take the law into their own hands.”
Lawyers and activists have noted that under Nigerian law, a suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a competent court. The killing of Mbaya, they argue, illustrates the dangers of allowing emotions to replace due process.
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