The Plateau State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with the alleged mob killing of a University of Jos student, Ibrahim Mbaye, whose death has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for an end to jungle justice across the country.
Mbaye, 25, was reportedly beaten by fellow students over allegations that he stole a mobile phone. Reports claimed he was assaulted by a group of individuals, humiliated and locked inside a room, even though the allegedly stolen phone was not found in his possession. Those claims have not been independently verified.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around the Bauchi Ring Road area near the University of Jos, has generated emotional reactions from students and associates of the deceased, who described him as a friendly, cheerful and promising young man whose life was cut short in tragic circumstances.
According to the Plateau State Police Command, the incident came to light on July 26 after officers at the Lamingo Police Division received information from a Good Samaritan at the Jos University Teaching Hospital that some youths had brought an unconscious man to the hospital under suspicious circumstances.
Police operatives who responded identified the victim as Ibrahim Mbaye of Rayfield, Jos. He was confirmed dead on arrival by doctors, while his remains were deposited in the hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
Investigations led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Rinji Daniel Fwanji, 25, Emmanuel Newyear, 30, and Nensemka Fwanji, 22. The Police alleged that one of the suspects, Emmanuel Newyear, was captured in a viral video using a large wooden plank to assault the deceased and was also identified in photographs obtained during the investigation.
The Command said the suspects told investigators they suspected Mbaye of stealing a mobile phone after he reportedly spent the night at a friend’s residence. Rather than reporting the allegation to the Police, they allegedly attacked him until he became unconscious.
The suspects have since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Jos for further investigation, while the Police said efforts were ongoing to apprehend other fleeing suspects. The Command added that all those found culpable would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Reacting to the incident, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the killing, describing it as cruel, senseless and a tragic reminder of the dangers of mob justice.
In a statement, the National President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, said no allegation, regardless of its nature, could justify violence or extrajudicial punishment. He expressed satisfaction that some suspects had already been arrested but urged security agencies to conduct a thorough, impartial and speedy investigation.
Akinteye said the association had consistently warned against jungle justice, insisting that such acts had no place on Nigerian campuses or in society. He called for everyone involved in the incident to be brought to justice, stressing that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done in order to deter similar acts.
The NANS President also extended condolences to the family of Ibrahim Mbaye, his friends and the University of Jos community, praying for the strength to bear what he described as an irreparable loss.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command reiterated its condemnation of jungle justice, warning that no individual has the legal authority to assault or kill anyone merely on suspicion of committing an offence. The Command urged members of the public to always report criminal allegations to law enforcement agencies and allow due process to take its course.
