The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects over the death of Ibrahim Mbaya, a 25-year-old University of Jos (UNIJOS) student, who allegedly died after being attacked by a mob over accusations of stealing a mobile phone. The incident has renewed concerns over jungle justice in Nigeria, with police vowing to bring everyone involved to justice. The case has also sparked widespread calls for an end to jungle justice and greater respect for the rule of law.
According to a statement issued on Monday, the incident happened on July 26, 2026, after officers at the Lamingo Police Division received a report from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). The caller informed the police that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the hospital under suspicious circumstances.
Police officers identified the victim as Ibrahim Mbaya of Rayfield, Jos. Doctors later confirmed him dead on arrival, while his body was deposited at the hospital mortuary for preservation and an autopsy.
Following preliminary investigations, the police arrested Rinji Daniel Fwanji (25), Emmanuel Newyear (30) and Nensemka Fwanji (22). Investigators said Emmanuel Newyear was captured in a viral video allegedly using a large wooden plank to assault the victim and was also identified in photographs obtained during the investigation.
According to the police, the suspects admitted that Mbaya was accused of stealing an iPhone. Instead of reporting the allegation to law enforcement authorities, they allegedly assaulted him until he became unconscious.
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Jos, while investigations continue. Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest other individuals believed to have participated in the attack.
The Plateau State Police Command strongly condemned jungle justice, stressing that no individual or group has the right to assault or kill anyone merely suspected of committing an offence. The Command emphasised that Nigeria’s criminal justice system guarantees due process and urged members of the public to report criminal allegations to the police rather than taking the law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, reports circulating online claimed that Mbaya, who was also described as a model, had spent the night at a friend’s off-campus residence in the Ring Road area of Jos before being accused of stealing an iPhone. The reports also alleged that he suffered prolonged torture before being taken to the hospital. However, the police said these claims have not been officially confirmed and remain part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident has triggered widespread outrage on social media, with many Nigerians demanding justice for Mbaya and calling for stronger action against jungle justice across the country.
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